Congressman Rips "Addiction for Profit" Gambling Companies
Published:
May 29, 2025
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05:49 p.m.
ET
Key Points:
Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy called out gambling and social media companies as “addiction-for-profit” industries.
Kennedy also warned that America is “losing the fight” to protect children and must take urgent legislative action.
The Kids Online Safety Act aims to protect children from algorithm-driven harms.
Kennedy draws on his own experience with addiction and mental health challenges to push for system reform and has a long history of supporting mental health initiatives, addiction care and public health reform.
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Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy is taking aim at what he calls “addiction-for-profit” industries, namely gambling and social media companies, that he says are hijacking America’s youth for financial gain.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Kennedy sounded the alarm about the growing influence of companies profiting from addiction. “We’ve got to stop all of these intrusive addiction-for-profit companies from taking our kids hostage,” he said. “That’s what they’re doing.”
Kennedy’s central message is clear: powerful industries with deeply embedded financial incentives are targeting vulnerable populations, especially children, with alarming precision and little accountability.
“Our country is falling down on its own responsibility as stewards to our children’s future. We are commercializing marijuana across the country,” Kennedy said. “How in the world, with kids’ anxiety rates and depression rates, does it make sense to add to the addiction crisis by having more access to addiction products?”
Gambling and social media companies targeting high-risk youth
Kennedy drew a direct line from the opioid epidemic to today’s digital addictions, calling social media “the next big one” in a series of preventable public health crises.
“Well, the power of the social media giants and their money, there’s going to be a bigger settlement by Meta and all the big social media companies than even tobacco or Purdue combined,” he answered.
In his view, the U.S. has already seen how unchecked corporate power can wreak havoc. With social media companies likely next in line, litigation may be the only recourse.
Kennedy also warned that online gambling companies are using algorithmic targeting to lock in high-risk users – often young people – with personalized ads and incentives.
“Our states are becoming addicted to the revenue of sports betting,” he said. “We are going to see a high correlation between people with gambling addiction and suicide.”
Kennedy’s comments come at a time when some U.S. states, including Ohio, are considering expanding online gambling laws, potentially increasing exposure to vulnerable populations.
Online safety legislation: Time to act
Kennedy supports the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bipartisan bill that would hold social media platforms accountable for protecting users under the age of 16. The bill has support from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association, as well as former President Joe Biden, who stated, “There is undeniable evidence that social media and other online platforms contribute to our youth mental health crisis.”
However, progress has stalled. Concerns over censorship and First Amendment rights have prompted debate, while House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that regulation must avoid infringing on free speech.
Despite the delays, Kennedy emphasized urgency. “This is a fight. We are losing the fight because we’re not out there fighting for our kids,” he told Meet the Press.
Connect with Birches Health today by clicking here, calling 833-483-3838 or emailing help@bircheshealth.com
Patrick Kennedy’s past pushes to protect American youth
Kennedy, a former Congressman (RI) and the son of late Senator Ted Kennedy, has long fought to protect the mental health and wellbeing of American youth. He co-authored the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which required insurance companies to treat mental health conditions equally to physical health.
As a member of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, Kennedy championed prevention and treatment access, particularly for adolescents. He also co-sponsored the Foundations for Learning Act, aimed at improving emotional health in schools through early intervention and screening.
With KOSA, Kennedy continues this trajectory, maintaining that U.S. children need protection from tech and gambling platforms that exploit behavioral vulnerabilities for financial gain.
Kennedy’s proposed solutions
Kennedy wants more than legislation. “We can’t just pass these bills,” Kennedy said. He wants systemic reform.
Kennedy believes social media is a main culprit for extreme isolation in our culture and proposes that early education around emotional regulation, coping skills and digital literacy in schools becomes essential in our schools.
Kennedy also wants to invest in a national prevention fund to identify and support at-risk individuals, simplifying the care system and updating insurance reimbursement models. He believes this long-term investment in mental health infrastructure and early intervention would yield substantial public health and economic returns over five to ten years.
Kennedy’s personal experiences with addiction and mental health challenges
Kennedy’s passion stems in part from his personal struggles. He has publicly shared his battles with alcohol and prescription drug addiction, as well as diagnoses of bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. After a 2006 car crash related to substance use, he sought treatment and began a life of recovery that continues today.
His advocacy is shaped by lived experience, therapy and participation in 12-step programs – support systems he credits with saving his life. “I think about all the people who don’t get that kind of help,” Kennedy says. “That’s what I want to change. I want to make care accessible and essential for everyone.”
Gambling Addiction treatment accessible across the U.S.
As gambling participation levels increase on college campuses and even in high schools, there is a rapidly growing need for the type of specialized care for which Kennedy is pushing.
In line with that goal, Birches Health provides proven, confidential support from the comfort of home across the United States. Birches offers virtual therapy sessions with licensed clinicians specially trained in treating gambling addiction. They create personalized treatment plans for compulsive behaviors, including sports betting, lottery and casino gambling. Care can also be covered by insurance, as Birches has partnered with all major insurance providers in the U.S.
The are multiple options to get started confidentially with Birches Health:
Call 833-483-3838
Email help@bircheshealth.com
