Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC — As March Madness reaches the Final Four—with billions of dollars on the line and millions of Americans placing high-stakes wagers—the National Consumers League (NCL) is warning that sports betting apps are doing more than fueling the excitement—they may be quietly draining consumers’ savings and damaging their financial health. 

New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that as sports betting expands, credit card delinquencies rise, credit scores fall, and bankruptcy rates increase—especially among younger and lower-income Americans.  

At the same time, NCL’s 2025 report revealed how aggressively betting apps are pushing users to keep wagering. In a first-of-its-kind analysis, NCL found that 93% of all push notifications sent by the three largest sports betting apps over a four-week period contained advertising content—with many designed to prompt immediate bets. 

“March Madness isn’t just entertainment anymore. Predatory gambling companies are constantly pressuring fans to spend more money when they should be having fun,” said Eden Iscil, NCL Senior Public Policy Manager. “Unlike TV, email, or text message ads, push notifications have no formal regulation, despite being very effective in capturing our attention. Advertising practices that are illegal over email have become normalized in smartphone apps. That’s not acceptable.” 

NCL’s findings reveal how these notifications drive betting behavior: 

• 62% urged users to place a bet, often using phrases like “bet now.”  

• 50% promoted bonuses and “no sweat” bets  

• 28% highlighted betting odds  

• 15% pushed parlays—high-risk bets with low odds of payout  

Americans are expected to wager more than $3 billion on this year’s NCAA tournament alone.  

To protect consumers during high-intensity betting moments like the Final Four, NCL is urging policymakers to act immediately: restrict sports betting advertising, especially marketing sent via smartphone push notifications. 

NCL’s full report is available here.  

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.