Public Health Advocacy Institute

Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Files Lawsuit in Pennsylvania Over Caesars’ Dangerous Online Casino Promotion and “Pay Through Bonuses”

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Promotion suggests a $2,500 deposit match but requires $375,000 in bets in the first week before any payout; lawsuit raises continued concerns about state gaming commissions and relationships with the gambling industry.  Boston, MA (June 18, 2025) – The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) today announced a new lawsuit filed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seeking to […]

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Harry Levant Featured in Washington Post article

Predatory Gambling​, Sports Betting /

The Washington Post featured our Director of Gambling Policy, Harry Levant, in an article that details how the rapid expansion of sports betting – especially real time “micro-betting” – is contributing to online abuse aimed at athletes. In the story published on June 14, 2025, titled “‘Kill yourself’: Toxic mix of betting, social media fuels

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Public Health Advocacy Institute Response to NCAA Decision to Sell Gambling Data to Sportsbooks

Leave a Comment / Predatory Gambling​, Press Release, Sports Betting /

BOSTON, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has unfortunately placed money and profits over public health and the safety of student-athletes by entering into an agreement with Genius Sports to sell real-time sports data to the gambling industry. The purpose of this deal is to enable the gambling industry to offer AI-driven micro-betting on college sports. Micro-betting — wagering

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Dr. Harry Levant Appears on CBS Sunday Morning to Discuss the Dangers of Sports Gambling Addiction

Leave a Comment / Predatory Gambling​, Sports Betting /

On Sunday March 30th, Dr. Harry Levant, Director of Gambling Policy here at PHAI appeared on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss the growing crisis of online sports gambling addiction. As legalized sports betting continues to spread across the U.S., millions of Americans are now exposed to gambling platforms that operate 24/7, making it easier than

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Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Joins Congressional Leaders to Reintroduce SAFE Bet Act Ahead of March Madness

Leave a Comment / Predatory Gambling​, Press Release, Uncategorized /

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2025 — The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at Northeastern University School of Law was pleased to support Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today as they reintroduced the SAFE Bet Act, which addresses the risks associated with legalized gambling. As of 2025, 39 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting, but the necessary safeguards are not

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TIME Article Features PHAI’s President Richard Daynard

Predatory Gambling​, Sports Betting /

We are thrilled to see TIME spotlight the critical work of PHAI and our president, Professor Richard Daynard. The article highlights PHAI’s lawsuit against DraftKings and our broader advocacy to address the public health consequences of the rapidly growing sports betting industry. As sports betting becomes more accessible, the risks of gambling addiction and exploitation

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PHAI Files Class Action Against Abbott Laboratories Over Marketing of “Toddler Milk”

Marketing Unhealthy Foods As Healthy, Press Release /

Labeled and displayed next to FDA-regulated infant formulas, toddler milk is being promoted as a healthy next stage in child nutrition, even as most experts recommend against its use.  BOSTON, MA (January 14, 2025)—The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) today announced that it has filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court

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PHAI’s Director of Gambling Policy, Harry Levant, Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Societal Harms of Legalized Sports Betting

Predatory Gambling​, Sports Betting, Testimony /

Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2024) – Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) is pleased to announce that Dr. Harry Levant, PHAI’s Director of Gambling Policy, delivered compelling testimony yesterday before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, as part of a hearing entitled: “America’s High-Stakes Bet on Legalized Sports Gambling.” The hearing examined sports betting growth since its

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PHAI’s Director of Gambling Policy, Dr. Harry Levant, Featured in The Disagreement Podcast

Predatory Gambling​, Sports Betting /

A new episode of The Disagreement podcast is out, featuring our Director of Gambling Policy, Dr. Harry Levant. This week, Dr. Levant sat down with Ben Fawkes, a sports betting expert and industry insider, to tackle the ethical concerns surrounding the gambling industry. They discuss topics from exploitative tactics to public health impact. Dr. Levant

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Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Files Lawsuit to Compel Massachusetts Gaming Commission to Collect Gambling Data, Share with Researchers

Legal Filings, Predatory Gambling​, Press Release /

Anonymized customer data collection is mandated under Massachusetts law, yet since the creation of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission more than a decade ago, no data has been collected or shared Boston, MA (October 30 , 2024) –Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) today announced that it has filed a lawsuit asking the Massachusetts Superior Court to

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