Les is the National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling, a 501c3 non-profit advocacy network of individuals and partner groups from all political stripes with members in all 50 states and its mission is to reveal the truth behind gambling operators to prevent more victims. He has been National Director since 2008 when the national network grew into the organization of Stop Predatory Gambling.
Les has spoken and written extensively about commercialized gambling operators and their business practices, including regional casinos, state lotteries, online gambling, and commercialized sports betting. He has been cited by more than 650 newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated. He has appeared on national television and radio including 60 Minutes, PBS NewsHour, CNN, Fox News Channel, The Dr. Phil Show, National Public Radio, MSNBC, The BBC and CNBC. He has also spoken before more than 1000 business organizations, college audiences and faith groups across the nation.
The national edition of The Deseret News named Les as “one of its seven heroes who made a difference in America this year.”
Prior to joining Stop Predatory Gambling, Les served as a Chief of Staff in the Massachusetts State Senate and worked as a campaign strategist for more than forty federal and state campaigns. He is also a former high school and college men’s basketball coach, founder of the Robert Frost Foundation in Lawrence, Massachusetts- the hometown of America’s favorite poet – and a past chairman of the city’s Planning Board. He is a member of St. Patrick Parish, a Roman Catholic community in Lawrence.
Les graduated from Ithaca College with a B.A. in English and earned a M.P.A. from Suffolk University.
Follow Les @LesBernal Phone: (202) 567-6996 x1 Email: Les[at]stoppredatorygambling.org
Les Bernal