WASHINGTON, DC (May 11, 2026) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), alongside bicameral lawmakers, sent a letter to the CEOs of several sports-betting and prediction market companies urging them to take immediate action to address the growing normalization of online gambling and the harms these platforms pose for young Americans. The letter follows recently published research from Common Sense Media highlighting the need for lawmakers to act to protect young adults and kids from the significant risks associated with the rise of online gaming and betting.
“We are particularly alarmed by the rapid normalization of online gambling among younger Americans and the targeting of this demographic through predatory advertising,” the lawmakers wrote. “Aggressive advertising campaigns, coupled with partnerships between prediction markets and major media outlets––including CNN, CNBC, Dow Jones, and Yahoo Finance––have made it easier for younger Americans to fall victim to a culture of ‘everything is gambling.’”
“This is not limited to prediction markets. To remain competitive, traditional sports gambling platforms have dramatically expanded their digital footprints. Bet365’s “Winning Is Everything” campaign alongside promotions from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics during March Madness reflect an industry-wide race to capture new customers,” the lawmakers continued. “Recent polling underscores growing concern among the public about the impact of these platforms on younger users. A Morning Consult survey found that 77 percent of Americans believe that prediction market platforms could increase gambling-related harm among young adults, while 73 percent said that describing bets as ‘contracts,’ ‘swaps’, or ‘futures’ makes it difficult for younger consumers to recognize the associated risks.”
“Although the legality of prediction markets and online sportsbooks remains contested across at least 30 active lawsuits, the harm to young Americans is not,” the lawmakers concluded. “Some of your companies have announced or considered new policies including stronger age verification processes, family accounts to identify excessive behaviors, and problem gambling self-assessments. We acknowledge these steps (...) But ultimately, they are insufficient.”
The letter was sent to the CEOs of ten companies across the sports-betting and prediction market industries. The companies that received the letter were Bet365 Group Limited, BetMGM Inc., FanDuel Group, Fanatics Inc., Caesars Entertainment, SidePrize LLC, DraftKings Inc. Polymarket, Kalshi Inc., and Robinhood Markets Inc.
The letter demands written responses from the companies, including:
-
Disclosure of any regulatory action, fines, or settlements that have been brought related to underage access, predatory advertising, or consumer protection violations.
-
Transparency around user demographics including what percentage of active users are between the ages of 18 and 24, and how much revenue is generated by users in that age group.
-
Clarification of what safeguards are currently in place by the companies to prevent access by individuals under the age of 18.
-
Internal policies governing the placement of advertisements on these platforms with substantial under-21 audiences.
The letter was signed by Reps. Foushee, Tonko, McCollum, Mullin, and Sen. Blumenthal.
Read the full letter here.