Two senators working to protect children online are introducing bipartisan legislation that would ban digital gambling advertisements targeting people under the age of 18, hoping to address fears that minors are getting hooked on betting through ads on social media.
Sens. Katie Britt (R., Ala.) and Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) are introducing legislation called the Gaming Advertisement to Minors Enforcement Act to create a federal prohibition on ads on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram that promote sports betting to minors.
Many states and big social-media companies already have such bans, but critics say they are ineffective and don’t have adequate punishments.
Under the new bill, the Federal Trade Commission would enforce the provisions, and penalties could reach up to $100,000 per advertisement.
