Public Health Advocacy Institute

PHAI Leaders Featured in CNN’s Sports Betting: America’s Big Gamble with Nick Watt

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Our Director of Gambling Policy, Dr. Harry Levant, and Executive Director, Mark Gottlieb, are featured in CNN’s new documentary, Sports Betting: America’s Big Gamble. The program aired as part of The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper on Sunday, August 24, and was hosted by CNN National correspondent Nick Watt. This special explores the rapid growth of sports gambling in […]

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CNN Reports on PHAI Lawsuit Against Abbott Labs Over Toddler Milk Marketing

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CNN has reported on our class-action suit against Abbott’s marketing of their “toddler milks.” These drinks are heavily promoted as a natural “next step” after infant formula—but they are not FDA-regulated and contain added sugars that pediatric experts warn against. Our Litigation Director, Andrew Rainer–who is also the lead attorney on the case–commented to CNN

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

Leave a Comment / Predatory Gambling​ /

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

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 on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss the Crisis of Online Sports Gambling

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 Joins Congressional Leaders to Reintroduce SAFE Bet Act Ahead of March Madness

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 Sues Abbott for Misleading “Toddler Milk” Marketing

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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