Lawmakers in Washington are preparing to take a deeper look at the booming sports betting business, zeroing in on how it could be reshaping competition and trust in games across the country.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who leads the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy, has scheduled a May 20 hearing to dig into the issue. The session will explore how legalized betting, now widespread, is influencing both pro leagues and college athletics.
Rapid expansion of legalized sports betting
Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, states have moved quickly to legalize wagering. What used to be tightly controlled has turned into a $165 billion industry spanning 39 states and Washington, D.C., with betting now just a tap away on mobile apps and newer prediction-style platforms.
Growing concerns over integrity and oversight
That rapid shift is raising alarms. Reports of suspicious activity, including possible manipulation of player performance and misuse of inside information, have surfaced across many prominent sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, UFC, MLS, and the NCAA. Regulators and researchers are also pointing to growing public concern, with recent surveys showing many Americans believe betting expansion is outpacing safeguards.
Examining risks to fair play
The hearing, titled “No Sure Bets: Protecting Sports Integrity in America,” will bring in voices from across the ecosystem. Scheduled witnesses include Bill Miller of the American Gaming Association, Mary Beth Thomas of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, Scott Sadin of Integrity Compliance 360, and former congressman Patrick McHenry, now tied to the Coalition for Prediction Markets. Another witness could still be added.
Blackburn framed the discussion as a necessary response to warning signs.
Fair play is the foundation of American sports, but recent match-fixing scandals in professional sports have put a spotlight on the risks facing the integrity of competition,” she said.
“As traditional online betting platforms and new entrants like prediction markets continue to intersect with sports, we need a clear understanding of how these platforms operate and what they mean for the integrity of the game. This hearing will examine how we strengthen oversight, protect the credibility of competition, and address the growing exposure of young people and children to betting platforms.”
International warnings and rising domestic scrutiny
Concerns are not limited to the U.S. Overseas regulators have issued similar warnings, including in Europe, where officials have cautioned athletes against betting on their own competitions. Back home, scrutiny is increasing as well. New York regulators are revisiting the role of player prop bets, and college sports leaders continue to wrestle with how gambling is affecting student-athletes, some of whom report harassment tied to betting outcomes.
Sen. Ted Cruz, who chairs the full Commerce Committee, said the core issue is whether fans can still trust what they’re watching. “Fans shouldn’t have to wonder if their favorite player missed a buzzer-beater or dropped a touchdown pass because of a secret bet,” he said. “Unfortunately, recent episodes have planted that seed of doubt and raised questions about whether changes are necessary to integrity in sports. I look forward to a productive conversation about the state of sports betting in the United States.”
