Predatory Gambling​

PHAI’s Dr. Harry Levant Testifies Before U.S. Senate, Urging Federal Action on Sports Betting 

BOSTON, MA (May 21, 2026) – With a compelling call for federal regulation of online sports gambling, Dr. Harry Levant—the Public Health Advocacy Institute’s (PHAI) Director of Gambling Policy—testified yesterday as a witness before the United States Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy. At the hearing, No Sure Bets: Protecting […]

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U.S. Senator Blumenthal and Congressman Tonko Vow to Advance SAFE Bet Act to Protect Consumers from Predatory Sports Gambling Practices

BOSTON, MA (April 28, 2026) – At an all-day conference last Friday on the public health impacts of online sports gambling, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) vowed to advance minimum federal standards to curb predatory practices in the online sports betting industry and safeguard consumers, particularly young people. Friday’s conference, “The

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Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Files Landmark Sports Gambling Lawsuit Against DraftKings, FanDuel, Genius Sports, and the National Football League (NFL)

Philadelphia lawsuit alleges defendants develop, distribute and profit from an inherently dangerous product designed to maximize betting behavior that leads to addiction; the NFL, named as a defendant, is among the largest shareholders of Genius Sports, which powers more than 98% of the sports betting market Boston, MA (March 24, 2026)—The Public Health Advocacy Institute

Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Files Landmark Sports Gambling Lawsuit Against DraftKings, FanDuel, Genius Sports, and the National Football League (NFL) Read More »

PHAI Issues Joint Statement with State Senators Keenan (MA) and Moriarty (NJ) Criticizing NCAA’s Sale of Live Data to Gambling Companies

Boston, MA and Trenton, NJ (March 11, 2026) –As the NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments approach, State Senators John F. Keenan (MA) and Paul Moriarty (NJ), together with the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), are raising concerns about the NCAA’s decision to sell real-time and historical tournament data to the gambling industry. “This dangerous

PHAI Issues Joint Statement with State Senators Keenan (MA) and Moriarty (NJ) Criticizing NCAA’s Sale of Live Data to Gambling Companies Read More »

Event: Online Gambling and the Public Health Movement: An International Symposium

Date: April 24, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Location: Northeastern University, East Village, 17th Floor, 291 St. Botolph Street, Boston, MA 02115 Register Now!  Description: The Public Health Advocacy Institute and Northeastern University’s Center for Health, Policy, and Law invite you to participate in “Online Gambling and the Public Health Movement: An International Symposium,” a full-day event

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Plaintiffs Prevail Over DraftKings in Massachusetts Class Action

Ruling denying the bulk of DraftKings’ Motion for Summary Judgment marks the first false advertising lawsuit against DraftKings Sportsbook to survive this stage, clearing the way for class certification and trial BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2026 — The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) is pleased to announce that its class action lawsuit against DraftKings will proceed toward class

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PHAI’s Harry Levant Featured on CNN’s Terms of Service with Clare Duffy

Ahead of one of America’s biggest sports betting days, Harry Levant, Director of Gambling Policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), was featured on CNN’s Terms of Service with Clare Duffy podcast, released February 3rd, to discuss the rapid expansion of online sports gambling and its public health implications. In the episode, Harry joins

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

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

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

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