NFL, Sportsbooks Face Lawsuit Over Micro-Betting Addiction

Gambling,

Two Pennsylvania men have sued NFL, DraftKings, FanDuel, and other sportsbooks over the harm from gambling addiction and in-game micro-bets.

Nationwide, sports betting is now legal in 39 states, and in Arkansas people wagered an average of nearly $1.8 million on it every day last year. But a growing body of evidence shows sports betting is harmful. Internet sportsbooks and online gambling are especially destructive.

One problem is that many sportsbooks accept micro-bet wagers — such as bets placed on the next play, next pitch, or next possession during a ballgame.

Micro-bets are designed to be fast-paced and repetitive, both of which are linked to problem gambling and addiction.

Pennsylvania plaintiffs Christopher Sage and Terry Thompson allege in their lawsuit that they developed gambling addictions after DraftKings and FanDuel began offering micro-bets.

The sportsbooks also allegedly assigned each man a personal “VIP Host” who enticed them to continue gambling.

We have written again and again about the dangers of internet sports betting.

Twenty-year-old males account for approximately 40% of calls to gambling addiction hotlines, and upwards of 20 million men are in debt or have been in debt as a result of sports betting.

There is strong evidence linking sports betting to increases in binge drinking as well as physical and mental harm.

Researchers also say legal sports betting is tied to sharp increases in violent crime.

Arkansans need to understand that sports betting isn’t harmless entertainment — it’s predatory, and it is expanding in our state.

In February, the Arkansas Racing Commission approved sports betting license applications by FanDuel and DraftKings. DraftKings reportedly will partner with Southland Casino in West Memphis, and FanDuel will partner with Oaklawn Casino in Hot Springs.

As this lawsuit highlights, sports betting fosters addiction, and it is linked to serious problems that hurt individuals, families, and whole communities.

As powerful corporations try to make gambling part of everyday life, it’s important for Arkansas to protect its citizens and families from predatory gambling.

Otherwise gambling addiction will simply continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Fewer Pastors Considering Quitting Ministry, Research Shows

Church,

Pastoral burnout in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic caused many to consider quitting ministry, but recent research shows that may be changing.

According to Barna’s latest data, 24% of Protestant senior pastors say they have seriously considered quitting full-time ministry in the past year. While that number is still concerning, it’s down considerably from peak levels a few years ago, when two out of every five pastors said they had considered quitting.

Barna notes that the pandemic years hit pastors hard. Church closures, public health mandates, changes in ministry models, and political division within congregations created a perfect storm for many ministers. Pastors nationwide often faced exhaustion and conflict with very little support.

The good news is that pressure appears to be easing in many cases. Arkansas’ churches can learn from this data. Believers and their families should pray for their pastors and find practical ways to encourage them. Supporting our pastors isn’t just a nice thing to do—it’s essential for healthy churches.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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From Courtroom Confusion to Cultural Christianity, Here’s a Look Back at the Week

Current Events,

Here’s a quick recap of the week’s top stories from Family Council and our friends.

From Family Council

Group Tells Pulaski County Court that the Right to Life Includes a Right to Abortion: An organization suing to overturn Arkansas’ pro-life laws filed a brief on Monday making the bizarre argument that protecting unborn babies from abortion violates the right to life. Keep Reading.

Federal Appeal Process Continues Over Arkansas’ Ten Commandments Law: Last week, U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks issued a final decision against the Ten Commandments in a group of Arkansas school districts, but higher federal courts are already weighing arguments from the case. Keep Reading.

Arkansas Lawmakers Gearing Up for 2026 Budget Session: The Arkansas Legislature’s 2026 fiscal session will begin at noon on Wednesday, April 8, and lawmakers have already started pre-filing bills. The Arkansas House and Senate probably won’t pass any new laws, but they will set the State’s budget for the coming year. Keep Reading.

Study Links Sports Betting to Binge Drinking Among Young Men: Nationwide, sports betting is now legal in more than 30 states — including Arkansas, where people wagered an average of nearly $1.8 million every day on sports last year. But while sports betting is expanding across the country, the social cost is expanding as well. Keep Reading.

Former Basketball Players Fail to Cooperate with Sports Betting Investigation: Earlier this month, the NCAA reported two former North Carolina A&T men’s basketball players did not cooperate with an investigation into potential sports betting violations — meaning the athletes are now ineligible to play. The NCAA notes that both men are no longer members of the school’s basketball program and are not currently competing in NCAA sports. Keep Reading.

Scottish Parliament Rejects Euthanasia: Last week the Scottish Parliament reportedly rejected a proposal that would have made Scotland the first country in the U.K. to legalize assisted suicide. Keep Reading.

Why “Safe Sex” Messaging Failed: For decades, public health campaigns promoted “safe sex” as the key to preventing sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, and state and federal officials spent millions of dollars teaching comprehensive sex education to students. But evidence shows that despite the massive investment, STD rates and teen pregnancy rates have remained high. Keep Reading.

Why Gen Z “Nones” Are Reconsidering Religion: Gen Z is the least religious cohort in American history. 43% of this generation born roughly between 1996 and 2012 identify as religious “nones.” While there have been many reports since Charlie Kirk’s assassination indicating increased interest in religion and increased church attendance, according to statistician Ryan Burge, there is not yet statistical evidence of religious revival among young people. Keep Reading.

From Our Friends

Louisville to pay $800K after court rules for Christian photographer. From Alliance Defending Freedom.

9 Things to Remember After the Death of Kermit Gosnell, ‘One of the Most Brutal Mass Murderers in American History’. From Pennsylvania Family Institute.

The Bible Does Not Support Abortion. From Breakpoint.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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