Lawmakers and addiction expert warn micro‑bets, social‑media ads target young people

At the Senate subcommittee hearing, Dr. Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute, described micro‑bets and same‑game parlays as "defectively designed" products that amplify addictive play and called for federal minimum safety standards. "Micro‑bets are fundamentally different, inherently dangerous," he said, linking the product design to rapid, repeated stimulus and data‑driven advertising that reaches minors on social media.

Senators and witnesses discussed multiple pathways by which young people encounter gambling content online: influencer partnerships, pop‑up affiliate ads, and targeted promos on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Dr. Levant recounted two anonymized client examples: a person who relapsed after receiving a promotional email immediately after a one‑year self‑exclusion period and another who received a tailored "welcome back" VIP offer while in treatment. He called those retention tactics "predatory."

Maribeth Thomas, Tennessee's sports wagering regulator, described state safeguards — a 21‑and‑over wagering age, a statewide self‑exclusion registry, restrictions on credit deposits, and operator disclosures — and said Tennessee proactively removes unlicensed apps from app stores. Industry witnesses said their member firms follow best advertising practices and apply age gating; Coalition representatives said 97% of prediction‑market volume is from users age 21 or older and that members maintain ban lists for prohibited patrons.

Lawmakers pressed for concrete steps: some senators urged statutory limits on advertising to minors or stronger federal backstops for self‑exclusion programs; others said Congress should avoid pushing activity underground and instead harmonize federal minimums with state rules. The subcommittee set a record deadline for follow‑up questions, indicating lawmakers intend to pursue more detail before proposing legislation.