Titus Presses Ways and Means to Restore Full Gambling Loss Deduction in Pending Tax Package
Rep. Dina Titus is pushing the House Ways and Means Committee to advance the FAIR BET Act and restore the 100% gambling loss deduction cut to 90% in 2025. The measure has bipartisan support in both chambers, including from Sen. Ted Cruz, but has stalled over procedure and competing priorities. (48 words)
SCCG Take — Stated Republican support has not produced floor action, leaving operators and players exposed to the 90% cap until Congress clears its crowded docket.
U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) is urging the House Ways and Means Committee to restore the 100% federal deduction for gambling losses. The Nevada Democrat wants her FAIR BET Act included as the panel reviews multiple tax measures this week.
The deduction was cut to 90% by the One Big Beautiful Bill signed by President Donald J. Trump on July 4, 2025. A gambler with $100,000 in winnings and $100,000 in losses now faces federal tax on $10,000 of phantom income.
Titus stated, “As Ways and Means considers an onslaught of new tax bills this week, I urge my colleagues to include a fix to restore the 100% tax deduction for gambling losses.” She added, “We just need to get this done. I will not stop fighting until we finally see this over the finish line.”
Bipartisan Support for FAIR BET and FULL HOUSE
The FAIR BET Act has drawn 11 Republicans and 14 Democrats as cosponsors. In the Senate, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the FULL HOUSE Act, which gained cosponsorship from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Cruz called restoration “a matter of basic fairness,” ensuring that “gamblers are taxed on what they actually earn.”
Neither bill has reached a floor vote more than a year after introduction. Senate Republican leaders blocked the FULL HOUSE Act on procedural grounds because tax legislation must originate in the House.
Why Restoration Remains Stalled
The 90% cap was inserted based on the view that many high-stakes gamblers used the prior full deduction to evade taxes. Proponents argued the limit would ensure at least some federal revenue.
Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) says he supports returning to 100% but favors Rep. Andy Barr‘s (R-KY) WAGER Act, introduced in July 2025. That measure has not been calendared. With defense, appropriations, and crypto bills dominating the calendar, gambling tax relief has taken a back seat, according to Casino.org News.
Reporting: Casino.org News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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