What This Bill Does
This bill makes it illegal to advertise sportsbooks (businesses that take sports bets and pay out winnings) on electronic media that the Federal Communications Commission oversees. The bill is called the "Betting on Our Future Act" and directs the FCC to enforce this advertising ban.
Who It Affects
Sportsbooks and businesses that advertise sportsbooks on electronic communication platforms subject to FCC jurisdiction. The Federal Communications Commission enforces the law.
Key Provisions
• Advertising a sportsbook on any electronic communication medium under FCC jurisdiction becomes illegal (Sec. 2(a))
• The Federal Communications Commission must enforce this prohibition as if it were part of the Communications Act of 1934 (Sec. 2(b))
• Violations of this advertising ban count as violations of the Communications Act of 1934 (Sec. 2(b))
What Changes
If this becomes law, anyone advertising a sportsbook on electronic communication platforms regulated by the FCC would be breaking federal law. The FCC would have power to enforce this ban and issue penalties for violations.
Important Definitions
• Sportsbook: A person or business that takes sports bets and pays out winnings (Sec. 2(c)(4))
• Sports bet or wager: Risking something of value on a sporting event with an agreement that someone receives something of value based on the outcome. This includes fantasy sports and simulation sports games (Sec. 2(c)(3))
• Sporting event: Includes fantasy or simulation sports games or contests (Sec. 2(c)(2))
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 967
To prohibit the advertising of sportsbooks on any medium of electronic com-
munication subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications
Commission, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Mr. TONKO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To prohibit the advertising of sportsbooks on any medium
of electronic communication subject to the jurisdiction
of the Federal Communications Commission, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Betting on Our Future
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Act’’.
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•HR 967 IH
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON ADVERTISING OF SPORTSBOOKS
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ON CERTAIN MEDIA OF ELECTRONIC COMMU-
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NICATION.
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(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful to advertise
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a sportsbook on any medium of electronic communication
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subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
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(b) IMPLEMENTATION
AND ENFORCEMENT.—The
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Commission shall implement and enforce this section as
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if this section is a part of the Communications Act of 1934
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(47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.). A violation of this section, or a
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regulation promulgated under this section, shall be consid-
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ered to be a violation of the Communications Act of 1934,
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or a regulation promulgated under such Act, respectively.
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(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
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means the Federal Communications Commission.
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(2) SPORTING
EVENT.—The term ‘‘sporting
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event’’ includes a fantasy or simulation sports game
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or contest.
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(3) SPORTS BET OR WAGER.—The term ‘‘sports
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bet or wager’’—
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(A) means the staking or risking by any
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person of something of value upon the outcome
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of a sporting event, upon an agreement or un-
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derstanding that the person or another person
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•HR 967 IH
will receive something of value in the event of
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a certain outcome;
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(B) includes any scheme of a type de-
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scribed in section 3702 of title 28, United
4
States Code; and
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(C) does not include participation in any
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game or contest in which participants do not
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stake or risk anything of value other than—
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(i) personal efforts of the participants
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in playing the game or contest or obtaining
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access to the internet; or
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(ii) points or credits that the sponsor
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of the game or contest provides to partici-
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pants free of charge and that can be used
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or redeemed only for participation in
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games or contests offered by the sponsor.
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(4) SPORTSBOOK.—The term ‘‘sportsbook’’
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means a person who is engaged in the business of—
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(A) taking sports bets or wagers; and
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(B) paying out winnings.
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Æ
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