Public Health Group Launches Site to Combat Online Gambling Harms
A new organization, Family and Friends of Gamblers (FFOG), officially launched its operations on October 15, 2025. FFOG aims to become a significant force opposing the harms caused by online gambling in the United States. The nonprofit group, supported by the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), seeks to establish comprehensive public health regulations for the widespread online gambling industry.
Giving Voice to Affected Families
FFOG’s primary mission is to amplify the voices of individuals and families suffering from gambling-related damage directly tied to the U.S. online gambling sector. Research shows that as many as eight to ten people around an individual with a gambling problem experience related harm.
Mark Gottlieb, FFOG Treasurer and a Law Professor at Northeastern University, stressed this suffering. Gottlieb stated that the actions of the online gambling industry affect “countless people beyond those struggling with gambling disorder.” He insisted that “The voices of the parents, spouses, partners, siblings, children, friends, and community members must and will be heard.” FFOG is being built as a safe space for people who face stigma when speaking about these harms.
The organization models itself after Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which significantly changed U.S. alcohol policy starting in the 1980s. FFOG receives no funding from the gambling industry.
Advancing Policy Beyond Legislation
While the SAFE Bet Act, introduced in 2024, is one focus, FFOG’s policy work extends well beyond the single piece of federal legislation. The SAFE Bet Act seeks to set minimum federal standards for online sports gambling.
Dr. Harry Levant, FFOG Secretary and PHAI Director of Gambling Policy, called the SAFE Bet Act “a wonderful start to a public health movement.” However, he stressed that FFOG will reach far past the Act itself. Dr. Levant projected that the organization “will become a powerful and leading voice in the public health movement.”
The organization intends to influence state-level policy and regulation. This work includes efforts related to artificial intelligence legislation to protect the public from the sports betting industry and tackling unrestricted advertising. Gottlieb believes the organization’s strength will come from having constituents “speak to policymakers where they live.”
Professor Richard Daynard of Northeastern University commented on the industry’s tactics. He noted that the gambling industry has largely copied the strategy of “Big Tobacco,” leading to unacceptable levels of public harm. Daynard believes FFOG will be critical in creating a “seismic public health response” to the gambling industry. Dr. Levant confirmed that while specific laws may “come and go,” FFOG “is here to stay.”
Platform for Mobilization
FFOG plans to build a national movement for change through a new membership platform and mobile application. This app will feature forums, news channels, webinars, and content designed to connect members. The group also intends to establish regional chapters to focus on advocacy opportunities at the local level.
FFOG focuses on state-sanctioned online gambling, which grew after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted federal restrictions on sports betting. This change allowed over 30 states to legalize online sports betting and seven states to legalize online casinos. The group welcomes anyone who has experienced harm from any form of gambling. FFOG is a support organization and does not provide addiction treatment.
Recommended