On Sunday, the New York Times (NYT) published an article on sports betting lobbying efforts, which has been criticized by industry trade groups and individuals as including “several mischaracterizations”.
Titled “Cigars, Booze, Money: How a Lobbying Blitz Made Sports Betting Ubiquitous”, the article makes the argument that the gambling sector “got their way with lawmakers after showering them with donations, gifts and dubious arguments.”
This assertion has been criticized by a number of US-based trade organizations, who pointed to the already stringent regulatory environment and the industry-wide commitments to responsible gaming.
Criticized by trade bodies
In a statement published on LinkedIn, the American Gaming Association (AGA) said that the NYT had made “several mischaracterizations” in the article, and emphasized that there is a high standard for obtaining gaming licenses in the US.