JON: I AM JON KELLER.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," FOR MORE PEOPLE DEAD TODAY AFTER THE LATEST IN AMERICA'’S EPIDEMIC OF MASS SHOOTINGS AT A BANK IN KENTUCKY.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING, AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEADERS TO TAKE ACTION?

LATER, THE FUTURE OF SPORTS BETTING IN THIS STATE, AS THE FLOOD OF ADS FOR CELTICS, BRUINS, AND OTHER WAGERS KEEP COMING.

BUT STATE OFFICIALS SHUTTING DOWN REQUESTS FOR MARATHON BETS, AT LEAST THIS YEAR.

ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING IN AMERICA.

FOUR INNOCENT PEOPLE MURDERED, JUST GOING ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

THIS TIME, A GUNMAN ARMED WITH AN AR-15 STYLE RIFLE OPENED FIRE AT THE OLD NATIONAL BANK IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, WOUNDING NINE PEOPLE, SOME CRITICALLY, WITH FOUR CONFIRMED DEAD SO FAR.

SHOOTER, ALSO DEAD.

POLICE SAY HE HAD A CONNECTION WITH THE BANK, POSSIBLY A FORMER EMPLOYEE.

OFFICIALS HAVE NOT YET CONFIRMED THE IDENTITIES OF THE VICTIMS, BUT THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY SAYS HE LOST PERSONAL FRIENDS IN THE SHOOTING.

>> THIS IS AWFUL.

I HAVE A VERY CLOSE FRIEND BUT DID NOT MAKE IT TODAY.

AND I HAVE ANOTHER CLOSE FRIEND WHO DID IN EITHER, AND ONE WHO IS AT THE HOSPITAL, THAT I HOPE IS GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH.

JON: THOSE FOUR VICTIMS JOINED DOZENS OF OTHERS, 80 IN TOTAL, WHO HAVE DIED IN 15 MASS KILLINGS SO FAR THIS YEAR ALONE, ACCORDING TO A DATABASE MAINTAINED BY NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, AND USA TODAY.

THAT INCLUDES THE 39-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS AND THREE STAFF MEMBERS MURDERED AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO.

THE SHOOTER IN THAT CASE WAS ALSO ARMED WITH AN AUTOMATIC RIFLE.

THAT HORRIFIC SHOOTING PROMPTED THREE DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKERS TO ORGANIZE A PROTEST AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE CALLING FOR STRONGER GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

BUT INSTEAD OF DEBATING THEIR MESSAGE, REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE VOTED TO EXPEL TWO OF THE THREE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS INSTEAD.

LET'’S TRY TO MAKE SOME SENSE OF ALL OF THIS WITH OUR GUEST, JOHN ROSENTHAL.

THE COFOUNDER OF THE ADVOCACY GROUP STOP HANDGUN VIOLENCE.

JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I GUESS YOU WERE JUST HERE 11 DAYS AGO.

WHEN WILL THIS ALL END?

JOHN: I WISH I KNEW, BUT I THINK THE STRAIGHTEST LINE IS TO VOTE THE 10 TO 15 REPUBLICANS OUT OF THE U.S. CONGRESS WHO ARE HOLDING UP THE WILL OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN POLLED, AND ONE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL GUN SALES BEFORE ANYONE CAN BUY A GUN.

AND 70% OF GUN OWNERS, EVEN, WANT TO BAN MILITARY STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.

SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO DO WHAT THEY DID IN KENTUCKY, AND NASHVILLE, AND THE DAILY MASS SHOOTINGS, WHICH IS OUTGUN POLICE WHO CARRY 13 TO 17 ROUNDS, WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOAD.

WHILE CONGRESS GIVES 35 TO 100 ROUND MAGAZINES TO KILL POLICE AND KILL AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOAD.

THE SOLUTION IS EASY, IT IS THE POLITICAL MILL -- POLITICAL WILL AMONG REPUBLICANS THAT IS KILLING OUR CHILDREN AT THE RATE OF MORE KIDS THAT ARE KILLED BY FIREARMS THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE IN AMERICA.

JON: I WANT TO DIG DOWN A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE POLITICS IN A MOMENT.

BUT IN THE WEEK SINCE THE NASHVILLE SCHOOL MASSACRE, WE HAVE SEEN EIGHT MASS SHOOTINGS.

SEVEN KILLED, 38 WOUNDED.

IN BOTH NASHVILLE AND LOUISVILLE, AS WE JUST HEARD, THE STATE'’S GOVERNOR NEWSOM OF THE VICTIMS PERSONALLY.

THEY WERE PERSONAL FRIENDS.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE.

THE 2011 SHOOTING OF GABBY GIFFORDS, A CONGRESSWOMAN FROM ARIZONA.

AND THOUGH 2017 ATTACK ON REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN STEVE SCALISE.

DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHEN THE VICTIMS ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS KNOW?

JOHN: APPARENTLY NOT.

THERE HAS BEEN A MASS SHOOTING EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WHEN NASHVILLE HAPPENED, THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN 89.

-- 89 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.

MORE DAYS THAN THIS YEAR.

WE ARE KILLING OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS BECAUSE OF ONE REASON ONLY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BLOOD MONEY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE UNIQUELY UNREGULATED GUN INDUSTRY THEN THEY CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR NEIGHBORS.

WHAT'’S IT GOING TO TAKE WHEN 441 PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN LAS VEGAS AT A COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL?

AND NOTHING CHANGED?

13 MORE PEOPLE SHOT TODAY, SIX IN NASHVILLE, EVERY 30 MINUTES A KID IS SHOT, EVERY THREE HOURS A KID DIES IN AMERICA.

CONGRESS WANTS TO ACT.

BUT IT IS JUST 10 TO 15 REPUBLICANS THAT ARE HOLDING IT UP.

JON: AFTER THE UVALDE MASSACRE LAST YEAR, 15 REPUBLICANS DID VOTE FOR A BILL WITH BIPARTISAN SPONSORSHIP THAT EXTENDED SOME CURBS ON GUN PURCHASES AND PROMOTED RED FLAG LAWS.

NO ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, NO RAISED AGE LIMIT FOR ASSAULT WEAPON PURCHASES.

BUT IT WAS SOMETHING.

WAS THAT BIPARTISAN VOTE JUST A FIG LEAF, A FLASH IN THE PAN?

JOHN: IT WAS A START, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST GUN BILL THAT HAD PASSED THE U.S. CONGRESS IN 30 YEARS.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS EXACTLY WHAT MASSACHUSETTS HAS DONE.

AND I'’M A GUN OWNER.

THERE IS NO INCONVENIENCE TO LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS IN ACCESSING FIREARMS.

BUT WE TREAT FIREARMS LIKE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS -- DANGEROUS PRODUCTS LIKE AUTOMOBILES.

.

WE REQUIRE RENEWABLE LICENSING, SAFETY FEATURES.

AND WE GIVE POLICE CHIEF'’S DISCRETION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH RENEWABLE LICENSING.

AND WE BAN THE LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION MAGAZINES DESIGNED TO OUTGUN POLICE OFFICERS.

WE HAVE REDUCED THE RIGHT -- THE RATE OF GUN DEATHS BY 40% SINCE 1994.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST GUN DEATH RATE IN THE NATION WITHOUT BANNING ANYTHING OTHER THAN ASSAULT WEAPONS AND CHEAP HANDGUNS WITHOUT SAFETY FEATURES.

IF EVERY SINGLE STATE HAD THE SAME LOW GUN DEATH RATE AS MASSACHUSETTS, THE MAJORITY OF GUN DEATHS WOULD BE PREVENTED WITHOUT BANNING FIREARMS.

JON: WE ARE TALKING WITH JOHN ROSENTHAL, A GUN CONTROL ACTIVIST FOR MANY YEARS HERE IN THE BOSTON AREA, AND NATIONALLY.

YOU MENTIONED THE POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL CLOUT OF THE GUN INDUSTRY.

CERTAINLY, THE NRA, THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION, IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE GUN LOBBY.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY HEAR THAT TERM.

BUT THEY ARE DOWN TO THEIR LOWEST MEMBERSHIP LEVELS IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

THEY ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE RED.

THEY ARE SADDLED WITH ALL SORTS OF LAWSUITS.

WHO IS DRIVING THE BUS, IF NOT THEM?

JOHN: IT'’S THE FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS THAT FRANKLY -- WHO ARE FUNDED BY THE UNREGULATED GUN INDUSTRY WHO CANNOT BE SOOTHED.

UNLIKE TOY GUNS AND TEDDY BEARS AND EVERY OTHER PRODUCT, THEY ARE -- THERE ARE FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR CONSUMERS, SO THAT YOU PREVENT GUN INJURIES AND DEATHS, OR INJURIES AND DEATHS FROM THOSE CONSUMER PRODUCTS.

TOY GUNS, TEDDY BEARS, AND EVERY OTHER PRODUCT.

REAL GUNS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE NATIONAL CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.

WHEN YOU GO OUT AND HUNT, YOU GOT TO HAVE A HUNTING LICENSE.

WHEN YOU HUNT DEER, YOU'’RE LIMITED TO FIVE ROUNDS.

WHEN YOU HUNT DUCK, YOU ARE LIMITED TO THREE ROUNDS TO PROTECT THE DUCK AND DEER POPULATION.

WHEN YOU WANT TO BUY MILITARY STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS OR EASILY CONCEALED HANDGUNS, NO LICENSE REQUIRED AND NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF ROUNDS TO KILL HUMANS.

IT IS EXTREME AND IT IS THE OPINION ME OF BAD PUBLIC POLICY, AND IT IS SO ANTIDEMOCRATIC.

BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, INCLUDING GUN OWNERS, WANT REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS, LIKE EVERY OTHER COUNTRY HAS.

EVERY OTHER DEVELOPED NATION.

WE HAVE MORE GUN INJURIES AND DEATHS THAN 26 INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS COMBINED.

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANTS IT.

THERE IS A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE HOLDING IT UP.

WE HAVE TO VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE.

UNTIL WE DO, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE ANOTHER 110 PEOPLE TOMORROW FROM GUN VIOLENCE.

EVERY DAY.

JON: IF THE DEMOCRATS HELD THE WHITE HOUSE AND HAD CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, AND HAD A FILIBUSTER PROOF MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, THE 60 VOTE SUPERMAJORITY, WOULD THIS CHANGE OVERNIGHT OR NOT?

JOHN: I THINK THE FILIBUSTER IS A BIG ISSUE.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO FIND 60 VOTES TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS, EVEN AMONG DEMOCRATS.

NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT.

MORE AMERICANS HAVE BEEN KILLED FROM FIREARMS SINCE 1975 IN ALL U.S. SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN IN ALL WARS COMBINED.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME.

BUT THE START WOULD BE SIMPLY REPLICATING THE EFFECTIVE MASSACHUSETTS GUN LAWS.

EVERY SINGLE STATE THAT HAS BACKGROUND CHECKS OR A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS HAVE LOWER GUN DEATH RATES THEN EVERY SINGLE STATE THAT HAS LACKS GUN LAWS.

WE KNOW THE SOLUTIONS.

IT IS THE POLITICAL WILL THAT WE DON'’T HAVE.

AND CHILDREN ARE PAYING THE PRICE.

AT THE RATE OF NINE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHEN CONGRESS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN AMERICA AMONG CHILDREN ARE FIREARMS, YOU KNOW WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

JON, YOU KNOW, WE ARE FACING VIRTUALLY A CIVIL IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND FIREARMS ARE A MAJOR WAY -- MAJOR ISSUE.

IT MAKES NO SENSE TO PROVIDE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO GUNS WITHOUT BACKGROUND CHECKS, OR -- WE ARE GIVING CRIMINALS HIGHER POWER WEAPONS THAN POLICE CARRY.

A LUSTFUL IS TO INCREASE GUN VIOLENCE, INCREASE GUN SALES, AND AS A RESULT, WE LOSE 45,000 AMERICANS A YEAR.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO CHANGE.

JON: I'’M OUT OF TIME.

BUT REAL QUICKLY, ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

JOHN: THE ONLY THING I'’M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IS GEN Z, MILLENNIALS, THEY KNOW HOW BADLY OUR GENERATION HAS ACTED.

SUCH THAT THESE KIDS ARE NOT SAFE IN SCHOOLS.

I THINK KIDS SHOULD WALK OUT EVERY WEEK AT THE SAME TIME.

BECAUSE FRANKLY, THEY ARE NOT SAFE IN SCHOOLS, JUST LIKE WE ARE NOT SAFE IN ANY PUBLIC PLACE, AS A RESULT OF A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS WHO NEED TO BE THROWN OUT OF OFFICE AND REPLACED WITH YOUNG, GEN Z CANDIDATES.

JON: JOHN ROSENTHAL, CO-FOUNDER, STOP HANDGUN VIOLENCE.

SORRY TO SEE YOU UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

JOHN: THANKS FOR ASKING ME BACK.

JON: EXACTLY ONE MONTH AGO TODAY, SPORTS BETTING WENT LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND IT HAS BEEN HARD TO MISS THE DELUSION OF COMMERCIALS, BILLBOARDS, AND ONLINE ADS WE HAVE BEEN SEEING EVERY SINCE EVERY MAJOR SPORTS EVENT AND SOME NOT SO MAJOR ONES IS OPEN FOR WAGERING IN ALMOST EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY.

WITH WELL-KNOWN ATHLETES AND BROADCASTERS FUELING THE NONSTOP HYPE.

THAT THERE IS ONE MAJOR COMPETITION YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BET ON THIS YEAR, THE BOSTON MARATHON.

LATE LAST WEEK, THE STATE GAMING COMMISSION DENIED A REQUEST FROM DRAFT KING SPORTS BOOK TO OPEN UP BETTING ON THE RACE, CITING " INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TO COORDINATE AND FULLY ENSURE PROPER PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE."

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE BREAKNECK PACE OF THE SPORTS BETTING ROLLOUT?

AND AS THE STATE GAMING COMMISSION'’S REJECTION OF IT A SIGN OF REGULATORY TIGHTENING?

HERE TO DISCUSS THAT ARE INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN GAMING INDUSTRY EXPERT, FATHER RICHARD MCGOWAN, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FINANCE AT BOSTON COLLEGE, AND CHELSEA TURNER, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS AT THE MASS COUNCIL ON GAMING AND HEALTH.

A NONPROFIT GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN WORKING TO MITIGATE GAMBLING RELATED PROBLEMS HERE FOR DECADES.

WELCOME, TO THE BOTH OF YOU.

REV.

MCGOWAN: GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

CHELSEA: THANKS SO MUCH.

JON: CHELSEA, LET'’S START WITH YOU.

IT HAS ONLY BEEN A MONTH.

BUT HOW SOON WILL WE START TO GET A HANDLE ON THE FALLOUT FROM SPORTS BETTING?

AND HOW WILL THAT BE MEASURED?

CHELSEA: THERE IS ACTUALLY ALREADY RESEARCH BEING DONE.

UMASS HAS A GROUP THAT WE CALL SIGMA.

IT STANDS FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ON GAMING IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME INITIAL RESEARCH, BASELINE ANALYSIS ON SPORTS BETTING IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT SPORTS BETTORS IN MASSACHUSETTS TEND TO BE YOUNGER, TEND TO BE MORE HIGHLY EDUCATED.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT SPORTS BETTING IS NOT NECESSARILY MORE RISKY THAN OTHER TYPES OF GAMBLING, BUT SPORTS BETTING -- SPORTS BETTORS TEND TO NOT JUST SPENT -- JUST A BET ON SPORTS BUT OTHER TYPES OF WEDDING.

-- BETTING.

THAT INCREASES THE RISK.

IT IS SOMETHING BEING MEASURED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MEASURED.

JON: IT IS YOUNGER PLAYERS, COLLEGE-EDUCATED OR IN COLLEGE, OR MAYBE JUST OUT OF COLLEGE, THAT IS WHERE THE ACTION IS, RIGHT?

CHELSEA: THERE IS A HIGHER GROUP THERE THAN OTHER TYPES OF GAMBLING.

JON: FATHER, YOU HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE GAMING COMMISSION WAS CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED BY THIS ADVERTISING ONSLAUGHT THAT WE HAVE SEEN, IN THAT IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR REGULATORY OVERSIGHT.

HOW COULD THEY NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?

REV.

MCGOWAN: I DOUBT THEY THOUGHT THE ONSLAUGHT THAT WOULD HAPPEN THIS FREQUENTLY, BUT I THINK ONCE THEY ALLOWED THE SPORTS GAMBLING TO GO ONLINE, THAT IS WHEN IT MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

THAT IS ALSO WHEN THE ADVERTISING -- WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE TONE OF THE ADVERTISING, IT SOUNDS AS IF THESE SPORTS BETTING VARIOUS FIRMS ARE GIVING AWAY YOUR FIRST COUPLE BETS ALMOST TO ENTICE YOU TO GET IN.

IT IS KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU BOUGHT A PRINTER, THEY GAVE YOU THE PRINTER FOR NOTHING, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HAD TO PAY FOR THE INK.

IT IS THE SAME THING HERE.

THE BONDS FROM THOSE SPORTS BETTING, IT IS INTERESTING.

AS YOUR PROMO BROUGHT IN HERE, IT IS WHO YOU -- YOU HEAR THE SPORTS PERSONALITIES, THE SPORTS TALK PERSONALITIES, THAT IS ALL THEY TALK ABOUT.

JON: RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME, THEY ARE PARSING THE ODDS.

CHELSEA, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU.

WERE YOU SURPRISED WHEN THE FLOODGATES OPENED BY THE NATURE OF THE FLOOD?

CHELSEA: I CAN'’T SAY I WAS SURPRISED.

IT SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WHEN A NEW TYPE OF GAMBLING IS INTRODUCED, WHETHER IT IS SPORTS GAMBLING OR CASINO GAMBLING, YOU'’RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF ADVERTISING.

OF COURSE, I HAVE TWO BOYS AND WE WATCH A LOT OF RED SOX.

WHEN YOU'’RE LOOKING AT THE GREEN MONSTER OR YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE PITCHERS MOUND AND YOU SEE SPORTS BETTING ADVERTISING EVERYWHERE, SOMETIMES, THERE IS PAUSED FOR CONCERN.

HOW CAN WE REGULATE IT IN A WAY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE?

HOW CAN WE COUNTERBALANCE SOME OF THE PROMOTIONAL ADVERTISING WITH RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING MESSAGING AND PROMOTING THE GAMBLING HELPLINE?

JON: WE ARE NOT THE FIRST STATE TO INTRODUCE SMARTPHONE BETTING AND SPORTS BOOK WAGERING.

AND THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LIMITED, RESTRICTED THE ADVERTISING MORE THAN US.

IN SOME CASES, EVEN BANNED IT.

DID THE LEGISLATURE FALL ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH?

REV.

MCGOWAN: IT IS NOT THE LEGISLATURE, IT IS THE GAMING COMMISSION.

THE LEGISLATURE TURNED OVER THE GAMING COMMISSION, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REGULATE GAMBLING.

AGAIN, I DOUBT THE GAMING COMMISSION EVER THOUGHT THAT THE AMOUNT OF ADVERTISING WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AS IT DID.

EVEN THE TYPE OF ADVERTISING.

I DOUBT THAT EVER CAME UP THROUGH THEIR MINDS.

IT IS INTERESTING, YOU MENTIONED THE RECENT FIGURES OF SPORTS GAMBLING CAME IN FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

BY THE WAY, WE STARTED A MONTH BEFORE.

ONLY 3% -- BY THE WAY, THEY MADE $800 MILLION THAT WAS SPENT ON SPORTS GAMBLING IN MARYLAND.

ONLY 3% WAS DONE AT A CASINO.

THE VAST MAJORITY, 97% OF ALL THE SPORTS GAMBLING, IS ONLINE.

THAT IS ANOTHER MORE INTERESTING THING.

ONCE YOU PUT SOMETHING ONLINE, LIKE GAMBLING, HAVE YOU REGULATE IT?

IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

JON: THE GROUP THAT CHELSEA REPRESENTS WORKS VERY HARD TO ADDRESS GAMBLING ADDICTION WITH CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

THEY DO THINGS LIKE VOLUNTARY SELF EXCLUSION WHERE GAMBLERS CAN SET LIMITS ON THEIR OWN WAGERING.

CHELSEA, CORRECT ME IF I'’M WRONG, BUT YOUR BUDGET IS JUST A FEW MILLION BUCKS.

IS THIS A MISMATCH WITH THE RESOURCES OF THE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR GAMBLING INDUSTRY?

CHELSEA: OF COURSE MORE RESOURCES WOULD ALWAYS BE HELPFUL.

.

WE ARE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT IS HAPPENING, AND I HAVE SAT THROUGH DAYS AND DAYS OF HEARINGS FROM THE GAMING COMMISSION ABOUT THE REGULATIONS, IS THAT RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE TASKING TEMPORARY REGULATIONS.

YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN THEM START TO PUT SAFEGUARDS AND CARD RAILS AROUND THE ADVERTISING.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WILL NOT SEE THE WORDS "RISK-FREE BETTING" IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN CLEVER ON HOW THEY HAVE GOTTEN AROUND THAT.

BUT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THINGS LIKE WHAT THEY ARE REQUIRING, AS POSSIBLE GAMBLING, MESSAGING, AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

THEY HAVE LIMIT SETTING TOOLS, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REALLY GOOD THINGS ABOUT ONLINE SPORTS BETTING, IS YOU CAN SET WAGERING LIMITS, DEPOSIT LIMITS, TIME LIMITS.

THOSE ARE ALL REALLY GOOD THINGS.

IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE VOLUNTARY SELF EXCLUSIONS AND COOLING-OFF PERIODS AT THE MASS COUNSEL.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE MOST PROUD OF, IS OVER THE LAST PROBABLY -- THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A MECHANISM BY WHICH PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTARY SELF EXCLUDE REMOTELY.

IF YOU WANT TO SELF EXCLUDE, YOU CAN SIMPLY CALL OUR NUMBER, AND DO THAT REMOTELY, FACE-TO-FACE WITH A LIVE PERSON 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

THAT IS GREAT FOR SOMEBODY WHO DOES NOT WANT TO WALK INTO A SPORTS BOOK, WANTS TO TALK TO A LIVE PERSON, MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHERE TO GET RESOURCES LIKE WHERE THEIR LOCAL GAMBLER ANONYMOUS MEETING IS, ETC.

IF THEY WANT TO GET A CLINICIAN, WHATEVER IS MOST COMFORTABLE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, WE WILL WALK THROUGH ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES THAT ARE LOCAL AND SPECIFIC TO THAT PERSON.

JON: FOR SOMEONE WHO IS HEARING THIS AND WONDERING, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE THAT, WHAT IS THE NUMBER?

CHELSEA: THE NUMBER WE ARE PROMOTING NOW IS 1-800-- GAMBLER.

ONE OF THE ISSUES IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATES HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS.

THAT IS THE NATIONAL NUMBER.

1-800-GAMBLER.

JON: RICHARD, I ASSUME YOU SHARE THE UTMOST RESPECT THAT I HAVE FOR THE WORK THAT THE MASS COUNSEL DOES.

IT IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE WORK.

BUT REALISTICALLY, ARE THE MEASURES THEY ARE TAKING ANY MATCH WITH THE MARKETING GUILE CLOUT AND MONEY OF THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY?

REV.

MCGOWAN: I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

BUT UNLESS SOMEHOW -- I WOULD IMAGINE -- NO, CLEARLY NOT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I OFTEN WONDER, WITH THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY, THEY MIGHT END UP BEING THE NEXT CIGARETTE INDUSTRY WHERE WE WILL BAN CERTAIN KINDS OF ADVERTISING, AND WE WILL HURT -- PUT CERTAIN WARNING LABELS ON THINGS.

I GUESS I'’M -- IT IS INTERESTING WHAT SEGMENT OF SOCIETY IS ACTUALLY BEING AFFECTED BY THIS.

AND I THINK YOU MIGHT SEE A PUSHBACK MORE THAN YOU ARE THINKING.

I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A PUSHBACK BY CERTAIN SEGMENTS.

BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MORE MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF GAMBLING.

JON: COLOR ME SKEPTICAL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STATE THAT LEFT GAMBLING FOR MANY YEARS.

WE WERE THE NUMBER ONE LOTTERY SPENDING STATE PER CAPITA.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GAMBLING LITERACY, YOU POINTED OUT TO ONE OF OUR PRODUCERS EARLIER TODAY, WE ARE FAR FROM NUMBER ONE.

WHAT IS GAMBLING LITERACY?

AND WHY IS OUR LACK OF IT A PROBLEM?

CHELSEA: THERE IS SOMETHING INTERNATIONALLY IN THE RESEARCH WORLD CALLED THE POSITIVE PAY SCALE.

IT IS A WAY TO MEASURE GAMBLING RELATED HARM.

WE HAVE DONE SOME OF THAT ANALYSIS IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH MASSACHUSETTS BETTORS.

IT LOOKS AT BEHAVIOR SUBSCALES, AND ONE OF THE SUBS OF THE FOUR SUBSCALES IS GAMBLING LITERACY.

.

WE KNOW MASSACHUSETTS BETTORS TEND TO SCORE LESS ON THAT.

WHAT IT IS IS KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU PLAY THE GAME.

IF YOU ARE -- IF YOU PLAY BLACKJACK, MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'’T REALIZE DEPENDING ON WHAT TABLE YOU SIT DOWN AT, THE ODDS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

WHEN -- SIMILARLY, WHEN YOU WAGER ON SPORTS BETTING ONLINE, IF YOU ARE MAKING A MONEY LINE BET VERSUS A PARLAY BET, WHERE THE HOUSE ADVANTAGE IS IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT BETWEEN THOSE BETS.

WE WANT FOLKS, AND I THINK WE SHARE THIS IN COMMON WITH OPERATORS, TO BE HEALTHY PLAYERS.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE WISE CHOICES WHEN IT IS COMING TO GAMBLING AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE DOING, UNDERSTAND THE INHERENT RISKS, PLAY RESPONSIBLY, HAVE A GOOD TIME, BUT KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY.

JON: RICHARD, IT IS THE OLDEST CLICHÉ IN THE BOOK, THAT THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

WE HAVE HAD CASINO GAMBLING FOR OVER A DECADE HERE, AND THE HOUSE CONTINUES TO WIN BIG.

I JUST WONDER, WITHOUT BEING TOO CYNICAL, ABOUT THE LIMITS OF EDUCATION TO BREAKTHROUGH TO THE BETTING POPULATION.

REV.

MCGOWAN: THE THING ABOUT SPORTS GAMBLING, IT CAN BE A LITTLE INSIDIOUS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE YOUNGER MALES.

THEY THINK IF THEY CAN DO THEIR HOMEWORK, THEY CAN BEAT THE ODDS.

IN OTHER WORDS, I CERTAINLY SAW THAT ALL THE YEARS WHEN I TAUGHT AT UNDERGRAD.

THEY ALL THOUGHT IF -- AND OF COURSE, THE WORST THING HAPPENED WHEN THEY WON EARLY, BECAUSE THEN THEY REALLY THOUGHT THEY COULD ALWAYS BEAT THE ODDS.

EDUCATING PEOPLE, I THINK THE ODDS, LIKE BLACKJACK, THE CASINO GAMES, BUT THAT IS THE MORE INSIDIOUS THING ABOUT SPORTS GAMBLING.

BECAUSE IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'’S MINDS, IT IS CONSIDERED SKILLED GAMBLING.

IF YOU REALLY DID YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU WOULD NOT LOSE.

GUESS WHAT?

WELL.

JON: WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I WOULD LIKE YOU EACH TO TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO PLAY THE WISHING GAME.

IF YOUR FONDEST WISH FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN THAT WOULD HELP YOU DO YOUR WORK WERE TO BE GRANTED, CHELSEA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

A BIGGER BUDGET?

CHELSEA: I'’M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE TWO WISHES, IF THAT'’S OK.

WISH ONE, OF COURSE, A BIGGER BUDGET.

WISH TWO WOULD BE FOR THERE TO BE MORE DATA IN RESEARCH.

THAT TAKES COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE REGULATORS AND THE OPERATORS.

RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A LOT OF SELF-REGULATION HAPPENING WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

A DRAFT KINGS MIGHT KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THEIR PLAYERS AND HAVE A PLAYER PROFILE.

THEY MIGHT KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS MIGHT BE AT RISK.

IF SPORTS BETTING, AND A LOT OF SPORTS BETTORS HAVE REGISTERED ON 2, 3, 4, 5 DIFFERENT APPS.

REALLY, YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE DATA, KNOWING MORE ABOUT COOLING-OFF PERIODS, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'’T, HOW CAN WE REFINE IT, WHAT ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE BETTER, WHILE ADVERTISING THE HELPLINE IS IMPORTANT, WHAT OTHER MESSAGES CAN WE BE GETTING OUT THERE THAT WILL RESONATE WITH PEOPLE?

YOUNG FOLKS, OLD FOLKS, ETC.

AND THIRD, PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUNG FOLKS THAT DEMOGRAPHIC UNDER 30.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THINGS LIKE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES PARTNERING WITH SPORTS BETTING OPERATORS.

THAT IS DEFINITELY PAUSE FOR CONCERN WHEN YOU HAVE A STADIUM FULL OF FOLKS THAT ARE NOT 21, ETC.

THINKING ABOUT THAT.

JON: FATHER, I'’M SORRY, SHE TOOK ALL OF YOUR TIME.

CHELSEA: SORRY ABOUT THAT.

JON: THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR INSIGHT.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

REV.

MCGOWAN: TAKE CARE.

CHELSEA: THANK YOU.

JON: THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

COME BACK TOMORROW.

IS AI THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS?

?

WE WILL HEAR FROM ONE DOCTOR WARNING HIS COLLEAGUES TO STEER CLEAR, AND A RESEARCHER WHO IS USING THE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PREDICT CANCER CASES.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

I AM JON KELLER FROM WBZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.