Lawmakers in Washington are preparing to take a deeper look at the booming sports betting business, zeroing in on how it could be reshaping competition and trust in games across the country.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who leads the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy, has scheduled a May 20 hearing to dig into the issue. The session will explore how legalized betting, now widespread, is influencing both pro leagues and college athletics.

Rapid expansion of legalized sports betting

Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, states have moved quickly to legalize wagering. What used to be tightly controlled has turned into a $165 billion industry spanning 39 states and Washington, D.C., with betting now just a tap away on mobile apps and newer prediction-style platforms.

Growing concerns over integrity and oversight

That rapid shift is raising alarms. Reports of suspicious activity, including possible manipulation of player performance and misuse of inside information, have surfaced across many prominent sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, UFC, MLS, and the NCAA. Regulators and researchers are also pointing to growing public concern, with recent surveys showing many Americans believe betting expansion is outpacing safeguards.

Examining risks to fair play

The hearing, titled “No Sure Bets: Protecting Sports Integrity in America,” will bring in voices from across the ecosystem. Scheduled witnesses include Bill Miller of the American Gaming Association, Mary Beth Thomas of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, Scott Sadin of Integrity Compliance 360, and former congressman Patrick McHenry, now tied to the Coalition for Prediction Markets. Another witness could still be added.

Blackburn framed the discussion as a necessary response to warning signs.

Fair play is the foundation of American sports, but recent match-fixing scandals in professional sports have put a spotlight on the risks facing the integrity of competition,” she said.

“As traditional online betting platforms and new entrants like prediction markets continue to intersect with sports, we ne...