Rep. Dina Titus Calls on House Leadership to Attach FAIR BET Act to Must-Pass Year-End Measures

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus has urged Republican House leaders to advance legislation restoring the full federal deduction for gambling losses before Congress adjourns. The Nevada Democrat, whose district includes the Las Vegas Strip, warned that current limits could push gamblers toward unregulated markets and harm investment and jobs in the regulated gaming industry.

Titus seeks to incorporate the FAIR BET Act, H.R. 4304, into essential legislation as lawmakers return from recess. The bill would reverse a change from the Senate-amended One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. That change cut the deductible share of gambling losses from 100% to 90%.

Under the revised rules, a gambler reporting $100,000 in winnings matched by equivalent losses would face taxes on $10,000. The prior full deduction eliminated taxable income in such cases. Titus introduced the FAIR BET Act on July 7, 2025. The House Ways and Means Committee approved it in September by a 38-5 vote, yet it has not advanced to a floor vote.

In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Titus requested inclusion in must-pass vehicles. She wrote: “As Congress returns from recess and turns to end-of-year legislation, I respectfully urge Leadership to expeditiously bring a gambling loss deduction fix to the House floor and include it in a must-pass legislative vehicle.”

Titus argued the 90% deduction “unfairly burdens professional gamblers and casual players alike and will inevitably drive players toward offshore and unregulated markets where consumer protections are nonexistent, thereby undermining responsible gaming efforts nationwide. This will further reduce tax revenue and stifle investment by the industry here at home, costing jobs and impacting ancillary businesses.” She added that enactment would “correct an unfair change in the tax code and provide needed certainty to taxpayers, businesses, and regulated gaming markets across the country.”

Bill Status and Tax Mechanics

The measure has bipartisan support but depends on leadership to reach the floor in the remaining weeks. As reported by Yogonet International, the narrow calendar leaves limited time. If omitted before adjournment next month, Titus could reintroduce it in January under expected Democratic congressional control.

Why the Lame-Duck Session Decides the Outcome

Regulated operators face direct exposure if the deduction cap persists and accelerates migration to offshore platforms lacking consumer safeguards. The coming weeks will determine whether Congress corrects the provision now or defers action into a new session, shaping tax certainty and competitive balance for the industry in the near term.