Press Release

Plaintiffs Prevail Over DraftKings in Massachusetts Class Action

Predatory Gambling​, Press Release, Sports Betting /

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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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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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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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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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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PHAI Joins Congressional Leaders to Unveil the SAFE Bet Act to Address Sports Betting Risks

Press Release, Sports Betting /

Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at the Northeastern University School of Law, was pleased to support Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) this week in introducing the SAFE Bet Act, which addresses the risks associated with legalized gambling. The SAFE Bet Act is the first federal legislative initiative to address the vast public health implications of mobile sports betting since

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DraftKings Fails to Dismiss Massachusetts Class Action for Deceptive Marketing

Center For Public Health Litigation, Predatory Gambling​, Press Release, Sports Betting /

Today, a court in Boston released its decision DENYING DraftKings’ Motion to Dismiss a class action filed last December alleging that its $1,000 signup bonus was an unfair and deceptive marketing practice and constituted false advertising. Mark Gottlieb, executive director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, which filed the

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Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) Calls for Overhaul of “Responsible Gambling” Model

Press Release /

Boston, MA (July 18, 2024) – As the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) gathered for their annual conference in San Diego this week, the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI)—a nonprofit research center for public health laws affiliated with Northeastern University School of Law— released a new video to highlight the ethical and scientific failure

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PHAI Welcomes Dr. Harry Levant as Director of Gambling Policy

Press Release /

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Boston, MA (June 26, 2024) – The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), a non-profit legal research center focused on public health law, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Harry Levant as its new Director of Gambling Policy.  At Northeastern University, Harry has conducted extensive research dedicated to developing a public

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Public Health Advocacy Institute Files Class Action Against DraftKings in Massachusetts

Legal Filings, Predatory Gambling​, Press Release /

For Immediate Release December 8, 2023 | Boston, MA Contact Mark Gottlieb – 617-373-8487 (mark@phai.org) Today, the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) and its Center for Public Health Litigation filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Massachusetts citizens who opened DraftKings Sportsbook accounts in response to a $1,000 bonus sign-up promotion that the gambling

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