Sen Blackburn says sports betting hearing likely first of ‘several’ as Congress weighs federal action

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., talks to Fox News Digital about a hearing to protect sports integrity in the U.S.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn says Congress is not done looking into the rapid expansion of sports betting and prediction markets.

In fact, Wednesday's hearing may have only been the beginning.

Blackburn, R-Tenn., who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy, told Fox News Digital/OutKick after the hearing that lawmakers now have to determine where Congress should step in and where states should remain in control. Plus, she stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of American sports before the problem gets worse.

"One of the things for consideration today [was] looking at the impact on the integrity of sports and gaming and then saying, all right, how do we make certain that we preserve fair play," Blackburn said.

Sen. Blackburn says Congress must determine where federal regulation is needed as sports betting and prediction markets rapidly expand in the U.S. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The hearing, titled "No Sure Bets: Protecting Sports Integrity in America," examined the rise of legal sports betting, sports-related prediction markets, gambling addiction, social media advertising and recent scandals involving alleged manipulation in professional and college sports.

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Blackburn said one of the biggest takeaways was the need to figure out the proper role for federal regulators versus state gaming officials.

"You heard a good bit today about the regulation on the prediction markets, the difference there against what you have as betting and gaming," Blackburn told