Connecticut Seeks to Shield Young People from Gambling Ads

A new and ambitious piece of legislation will seek to further protect young individuals and college students from potential gambling harm.

House Bill 5271, which is officially dubbed “An Act prohibiting Gaming-Related Advertising, Marketing and Promotional Activities at Public Institutions of Higher Education,” seeks to shield the specified groups from exposure to gambling advertisements.

Gambling advertisements seen by young people have been tied to higher chances of developing a problematic relationship with the industry and activity that persists later on in life.

Connecticut Toughens Stance on Ads Targeting College Students

Both legislators and independent observers have thrown their weight behind the bill with Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling director of public policy and communications, Paul Tarbox, welcoming the draft law. He said:

College students, especially males, are really prone to abusing gambling when it comes to sports betting and casinos. Expanding the bill to include restrictions on certain displays on campus-wide internet or communication systems just makes sense from a safety standpoint.

Paul Tarbox

He welcomed this particular approach, arguing that banning access to regulated gambling applications had been known to favor the black market as have been blanket bans on marketing communications.

Regardless, Tarbox has welcomed the tailored approach that specifically seeks to protect those who are the most at risk of developing a more serious problem that persists later in life and takes a social, financial, and mental health toll.

However, any such measures ought to be introduced while observing the practical realities. University of Connecticut executive associate athletic director, Neal Eskin, argued that if this new measure is to pass in its current form, it could jeopardize the university’s access to funding that allows it to develop its athletic program.

“However, practices such as displaying the Mohegan Sun logo on the floor of Gampel Pavilion and showcasing logos of Mohegan Sun and the Connecticut Lottery in the arena are industry standards and vital to our financial sustainability,” he explained.

Those At-Risk Must Be Protected Without Compromising Financial Stability

Eskin though is not opposed to the whole premise and he welcomes any moves that directly target operators and limit them from soliciting younger gamblers or introducing younger people to gambling as such.

Rather than introducing bans on college premises, for example, though, he urges to find a middle ground that shields these at-risk groups while not compromising colleges and universities’ ability to generate revenue.

Others have called for an examination of the existing gambling ads to determine whether they are indeed predatory and should be shuttered altogether.