A U.S. Senate subcommittee plans to discuss the integrity of sports betting and prediction markets, marking another Congressional hearing related to gaming amid scandals and pending legislation.
The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy will hold a hearing on May 20 to discuss integrity concerns amid gambling-related scandals impacting sports leagues and organizations in the U.S.
The hearing, titled “No Sure Bets: Protecting Sports Integrity in America”, will be live streamed on YouTube and the subcommittee’s website.
“Fans shouldn’t have to wonder if their favorite player missed a buzzer-beater or dropped a touchdown pass because of a secret bet,” said Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz. “Unfortunately, recent episodes have planted that seed of doubt and raised questions about whether changes are necessary to integrity in sports”.
The Senate continues to put gaming issues front and center this spring. Senators last week voted unanimously to ban themselves and their staff members from participating in prediction markets.
What will Senate sports betting hearing entail?
The subcommittee will discuss gameplay manipulation and the sharing of insider information, as the NBA, the NCAA and MLB deal with the alleged illicit behavior.
“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,” said Subcommittee Chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
The hearing will include testimony from key stakeholders in government and gaming about whether active regulatory frameworks effectively protect the integrity of competition. The discussion will also include input on whether to implement additional safeguards.
Key stakeholders in gaming that are attending the hearing include:
- American Gaming Association Chief Executive Officer Bill Miller
- Integrity Compliance 360 CEO Scott Sadin
- Tennessee Sports Wagering Council Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas
- Coalition for Prediction Markets Senior Advisor Honorable Patrick McHenry
Heading down the prediction markets road
The subcommittee hearing later this month will mark the first time a Senate body will address the proliferation of prediction markets and their impact on the integrity of sports. A previous Congressional hearing in 2024 did not include sports event contracts.
“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,” continued Blackburn.
Other subcommittee members who will join Blackburn during the hearing include:
- Indiana Sen. Todd Young
- Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar
- New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján
- South Dakota Sen. John Thune
Klobuchar is taking legislative action to combat integrity concerns for prediction markets. Earlier this year, Klobuchar introduced a piece of legislation that aims to ban government officials from trading on prediction markets while using their access to insider information.
The measure, the End Prediction Market Corruption Act, extends to the U.S. President, Vice Presidents, members of Congress and other public officials. The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for consideration.
Previous Senate hearing on sports betting
In December 2024, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on sports betting. The discussion touched on several gambling-related issues, including the dangers of sports betting to U.S. residents. Lawmakers and key stakeholders, including trade association iDEA Growth, also discussed whether state-by-state regulation is an adequate approach.
The hearing also included NCAA President Charlie Baker, who discussed his willingness to embrace a college player prop ban and enhance data-sharing for integrity investigations.
The Senate’s next hearing will expand on that discussion amid changes in gaming.
