‘There’s no limit’: one congressman’s solitary crusade to rein in sports betting

Democrat Paul Tonko is pushing to halt a ‘public health crisis’ from engulfing the country – starting with a nationwide ban on ads

As Las Vegas prepares to host Super Bowl LVIII sports betting is preparing to celebrate its remarkable shift from the illegal fringes of American sports to the heart of its establishment. In Congress, one man is not cheering.

Congressman Paul Tonko fears the industry has already gone too far. “There’s no limit to this,” he told the Guardian. “You can’t have this wild west environment.” So far Tonko is a rare voice of dissent in Washington, another arena where the new gambling establishment is gaining ground.