Compliance Updates
Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) and Congressional Leaders Unveil the SAFE Bet Act to Address Sports Betting Risks
Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at the Northeastern University School of Law has supported Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) last week in introducing the SAFE Bet Act, which addresses the risks associated with legalized gambling.
The SAFE Bet Act is the first federal legislative initiative to address the vast public health implications of mobile sports betting since sports betting was legalized in 2018. When the SAFE Bet Act is enacted, federal standards will be set to create a safer and less addictive betting environment. While still allowing the freedom for those who wish to participate, these standards will include addressing advertising, affordability, and artificial intelligence issues.
PHAI’s President and Northeastern University Distinguished Professor of Law, Richard Daynard, said: “PHAI’s mission is to serve the greater good by seeking big ideas to advance public health and justice. That is why we’re fully dedicated to playing a leading role in work to bring about a comprehensive public health response to the looming crisis presented by the out-of-control gambling industry.”
“The gambling industry is following a playbook developed by the tobacco industry and this is a direct threat to public health. At PHAI, we will work tirelessly to address this threat and protect public health. Supporting the SAFE Bet Act is part of this effort,” Daynard added.
PHAI Executive Director Mark Gottlieb said: “It is my desire to play an important role in national and international efforts to develop and implement a public health approach to regulating the gambling industry and online gambling. At PHAI, we utilize a wide range of resources—including litigation and advocacy—to protect public health. It has become apparent that the gambling industry and its partners act with conscious and reckless disregard for public safety. Collaborating with Congressman Tonko and Senator Blumenthal to create the SAFE Bet Act is one part of how PHAI will bring a public health response to the gambling industry.”
“As the Director of Gambling Policy with the Public Health Advocacy Institute it is my role to develop comprehensive public health strategies and advocacy efforts to address the looming crisis being caused by the unprecedented expansion of the gambling industry and online gambling. The ‘responsible gaming’ model of industry self-regulation is unethical and an abject failure. At PHAI, we will help lead a growing movement to expose the failures of the gambling industry’s responsible gaming model. In doing so, we will develop and help implement a series of comprehensive public health reforms designed to regulate the gambling industry, prevent harm, and protect individuals and families. It is a privilege to support Congressman Tonko and Senator Blumenthal as we work to advance the SAFE Bet Act,” said Dr. Harry Levant, PHAI Director of Gambling Policy.
“Since their inception, sports and sporting events have been a chance for family, friends, and strangers to gather together in celebration of beloved teams and athletes in a great American pastime. But now, every single moment of every sporting event across the globe has become a betting opportunity. That resulted in a frightening rise in gambling disorder, which has in turn enacted a horrific toll on individuals, many of whom have lost their home, job, marriage, and their lives. We have a duty to protect people and their families from suffering the tremendous harm related to gambling addiction. Our SAFE Bet Act gets the job done and gives sports back to the American people,” Congressman Tonko said.
At the press conference, Senator Blumenthal said: “Right now, states have legalized gambling, but they failed to protect citizens against those excesses, abuses, and exploitations. State regulation is faint-hearted and half-baked. That’s why we need a national standard–not to ban gambling–but simply to take back control over an industry that is out of bounds.”
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) will hold a hearing on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 to receive public comment on the renewal of the Category 4 Slot Machine Operator License for Stadium Casino Westmoreland RE LLC, operator of Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County.
The hearing will begin at 10:30 am and be held at the Township of Hempfield Municipal Building, 1132 Woodward Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601.
Citizens, public officials, and community groups can choose to speak or submit written testimony. The hearing is open to the public.
Individuals who wish to provide in-person or written testimony should visit the Board’s website, gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov, and choose the special link in the Regular Board Meetings and Special Meetings section on the homepage for more information and registration. Persons wishing to provide comment will need to register ahead of time. The deadline for registration to speak or submit written testimony is noon on Monday, June 9.
A listing of all government officials, community groups, and individuals who have registered to speak at this hearing will be posted on the Board’s website beginning the week prior to the hearing and updated daily.
Random State (“RS”), the Swedish studio behind next‑generation iLottery and multiplayer bingo content, has been granted a Gaming‑Related Supplier – Manufacturer licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The approval, effective 14 May 2025, authorises RS to offer its games and platform services to licensed operators across Ontario.
“Securing the Ontario licence is a milestone our entire team has worked tirelessly toward,” said Adam Fonsica, Co‑Founder & COO at Random State. “Ontario not only validates the quality and integrity of our technology; it provides a launchpad for our broader North‑American expansion. We can’t wait to introduce our eInstant titles and multiplayer bingo hub to Ontario players later this year, together with a soon‑to‑be‑announced operator.”
The licence clears the way for RS to roll out its full product portfolio in Ontario:
Interactive eInstants – instant‑win games that re‑imagine traditional lottery mechanics with modern gameplay and rich visuals.
Multiplayer bingo – a complete suite of 90-, 75-, 80/60/40‑ and 30‑ball variants, featuring progressive jackpots, Pot Booster and real‑time chat hosting.
Turn‑key iGaming platform – advanced Player Account Management (PAM), certified RNG, gamification engine and a WYSIWYG game‑configuration tool that lets operators launch new games in minutes.
Random State expects its first Ontario go‑live in Q3 2025, delivering both eInstants and multiplayer bingo on day one.
The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) has announced that it has officially begun accepting applications for sports betting license.
The Commission made the announcement following the unanimous approval of a resolution drafted Tuesday that approved the licensing process. The resolution passed after Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office reviewed it.
The licensing period opens roughly six months after Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment legalizing sports betting. The measure passed by less than half a percentage point, with a margin of less than 7500 votes.
According to the amendment, the state’s sports betting sector has to be ready to launch by Dec. 1, 2025. Operators will pay a 10% wagering tax, which will mostly go toward funding education programs throughout the state.
The delay in setting up the licensing system was largely due to the new Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. Hoskins publicly opposed sports betting when he was in the Missouri state legislature. In February, he denied the Commission’s attempt to accelerate the process.
Regulators and sportsbook operators hoped the sector would be up and running in time for the NFL season’s start in September. That won’t happen now, as licensing rules don’t take effect until Aug. 30, leaving insufficient time.
Missouri license applications have two deadlines. The deadline for the two proposed “untethered” sportsbook licenses, known as Direct Mobile Licenses, is July 15. The companies that applied will have a hearing on Aug. 13, and the successful applicants will be announced on Aug. 15.
The other retail and mobile licenses have a longer application window until Sept. 12. Although licensing rules don’t officially take effect until the end of August, the Commission opened applications at this stage to give applicants time to prepare their paperwork.
All 13 of the state’s casinos and excursion gambling boats may apply for licenses to offer sports betting, and all six of Missouri’s pro sports teams will be allowed to host retail sports betting outlets at or near their stadiums.
Prior to the opening of license applications, the MLB team St. Louis Cardinals partnered with sportsbook bet365 to become the team’s official sports betting partner. The collaboration grants the operator access to a sports wagering license when the market opens at the end of the year.
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