71% of young Massachusetts adults have bet on sports, Congress told
A House subcommittee heard testimony on under-age sports betting on college campuses & claims that prediction markets dodge state gambling laws.
The hit
A House subcommittee heard testimony Wednesday that 71% of Massachusetts residents aged 18 to 25 have bet on sports, according to Massachusetts Gaming Commission chairman Jordan Maynard. The hearing, titled “Rise of Sports Gambling on College Campuses,” also heard Maynard’s claims that prediction markets avoid state laws, taxes & problem-gambling rules required of licensed operators.
Why it matters
Maynard told lawmakers prediction markets are “illegally offering sports wagering in Massachusetts” & said the CFTC is not equipped to regulate them to state standards. Witness Cindy Clouner backed federal regulation of player prop bets over a state-by-state patchwork, while Maynard said of proxy betting by under-21s: “It’s not harmless, it’s illegal.”
The record
| Under-21 sportsbook app users | 34% across the survey, 22% in Massachusetts (Boston University School of Public Health survey) |
|---|---|
| Accounts blocked | 11,000+ under-21 sign-ups stopped (Massachusetts Gaming Commission) |
| Campus betting rate | 67% of on-campus students had bet on sports (NCAA survey) |
| Problem-gambling signs | 16% of students showed signs, such as chasing losses or spending more than planned (NCAA survey) |
| State lawsuit pending | Massachusetts AG Andrea Joy Campbell’s case against Kalshi awaits Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling |
What happens next
Watch the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling on the Kalshi lawsuit & whether lawmakers act on ranking subcommittee member Alma Adams’s claim that the CFTC should not be able to use a “loophole” around state gambling laws.
Sources: Congress examines rise of sports betting on U.S. college campuses – CDC Gaming
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