Democrats Say Betting Platforms Target 18-24-Year-Olds

Five Capitol Hill Democrats sent a letter Monday to the leaders of a dozen online sportsbooks and prediction market platforms, accusing their apps and advertising of targeting 18- to 24-year-olds and requesting a briefing and written responses by May 29.

The letter was signed by Representatives Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). It was addressed to the CEOs of firms that operate under state sports-betting rules or federal prediction-market authorization, including Kalshi, bet365, Polymarket, Caesars, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Robinhood, Fanatics and PrizePicks.

The lawmakers asked for a briefing and answers to 12 specific questions by May 29. The letter requests details on marketing practices directed at young adults, use of social media platforms popular with Gen Z, advertising partnerships, customer age-verification procedures, measures to identify and assist at-risk users, and the extent to which companies collect and use data to target potential customers.

The five-page letter states, “We are particularly alarmed by the rapid normalization of online gambling among younger Americans and the targeting of this demographic through predatory advertising.” It cites a TikTok advertisement by one prediction market platform that highlighted a user claiming to have earned two years’ rent trading on the site. The lawmakers also raised concerns about partnerships between some prediction markets and major news organizations.

The letter cites a recent Ipsos poll finding that men aged 18 to 24 are about twice as likely as other groups to use a daily fantasy, prediction market or sports-betting app. The lawmakers note an increase in advertising across the sector and pointed to campaigns such as bet365’s “Winning is Everything” as examples of heightened competition for new customers.

The lawmakers said some operators have adopted measures to address risks but described those responses as limited and reactive. The letter asks for evidence of safeguards the companies use to prevent underage or problematic gambling and for documentation of how operators enforce age and identity checks.

The congressional action follows earlier legislative proposals. Representatives Tonko and Blumenthal introduced the SAFE Bet Act last year, which would restrict sportsbook advertising during live events, ban promotional bonuses, require affordability checks for customers who wager $1,000 or more in 24 hours or $10,000 or more over 30 days, and prohibit prop bets on college and amateur athletes. Related bills have been filed to direct a portion of federal sports-betting tax revenue to problem-gambling programs. None of those measures has advanced to a committee hearing.

At the state level, several jurisdictions have challenged prediction markets in court and proposed bills to limit prediction markets from offering sports contracts or to require they follow state gambling regulations and tax rules. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is scheduled to hold a Senate hearing next week on sports-betting integrity; planned witnesses include the CEO of the American Gaming Association and the co-founder of a sports-betting integrity firm.

The lawmakers said they expect engagement from the operators and indicated further legislative or regulatory action could follow if the industry does not provide satisfactory answers by the May 29 deadline.