Ahead of March Madness, Sen. Richard Blumenthal is calling on sports betting companies to act responsibly by not preying on sports fans who have gambling problems.

"Help problem gamblers halt addiction. Don't bombard them with the ads and promotions to do more gambling if they have a vulnerability to addiction. That's how you can really help March Madness become the fun and fan-friendly kind of activity that it should be," he said.

Blumenthal is also demanding that companies stop leveraging data to target potential problem gamblers, adapt guidelines to protect people from addiction and connect them with resources and treatment.

Blumenthal is a co-sponsor of Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment and Treatment Act, which will set aside federal funds to treat and research gambling addiction.

On Monday, he plans to visit Connecticut Renaissance's Gambling Treatment Program's open house in Norwalk.

The program offers individual, couple, family and group treatment to those impacted by problem gambling.