The Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on federal oversight of legal sports betting notably excluded key industry representatives, raising concerns about the balanced representation of stakeholders.

The hearing, focused on the SAFE Bet Act proposed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), featured testimony from five witnesses, none of whom represented the operational side of sports betting.

Key provisions of the proposed SAFE Bet Act include:

• Ban on TV gambling ads between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
• Mandatory affordability checks for high-volume bettors
• Daily deposit limits
• Credit card ban
• Restrictions on AI-driven incentives
• Prohibition of "risk-free" advertising language

The invited witnesses included:

• NCAA President Charlie Baker
• Keith Whyte (National Council on Problem Gambling)
• Johnson Bademosi (former NFL player)
• Harry Levant (gambling counselor)

Notable exclusions from the hearing included sportsbook operators, state lawmakers, gaming regulators, and the American Gaming Association (AGA). The AGA, through Senior VP Joe Maloney, expressed concern about the lack of industry representation and emphasized their commitment to consumer protection through state regulatory frameworks.

The AGA opposes the SAFE Bet Act, viewing it as an overreach that undermines existing state-level regulations and industry efforts to ensure safe, regulated sports betting markets with consumer protections.

The hearing's focus remained largely on potential gambling-related risks, with witnesses highlighting concerns about player props, problem gambling, and public health implications, without substantial input from industry stakeholders who could address existing safeguards and regulatory compliance measures.

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