Attempt to block the Big Beautiful Bill fails
Representative Dina Titus was unable, for now, to stop next year's gambling tax from coming into effect.
More bad news for US poker players and gamblers, as it appears the Big Beautiful Bill is marching on, full steam ahead.
Yesterday, the US House Rules Committee declined to consider Representative Dina Titus’s “Fair BET Act” as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), effectively blocking the measure from advancing via the annual defence bill. The decision means the proposal will not receive debate or a vote as part of this legislative vehicle.
The Fair BET Act sought to modernise how gambling winnings are reported and taxed at the federal level in the United States. In 2026, gamblers in the US will only be allowed to claim 90% of losses as tax deductions, potentially meaning that somebody could be taxed for money they did not win.
Unfortunately, the GOP-controlled Rules Committee did not accept the FAIR BET Act as an amendment to the NDAA. This was an easy fix that should have been adopted. Nonetheless, I will continue to build support to restore the 100% gambling loss deduction.
— Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) September 9, 2025
A big setback for US gamblers
The Rules Committee’s decision does not prevent the Fair BET Act, or similar provisions, from being introduced as standalone legislation or attached to another bill in future. However, the NDAA route is closed for this session.
The new tax rules have been criticised from all corners of the political aisle and from industry bosses. In particular, in Nevada, where tourism is already suffering.
Gambling tax expert Russell Fox recently spoke out, saying he believes the law will be repealed, but not before it comes into effect in January. It seems that, for now at least, poker players and gamblers in the United States will need to take a serious look at their tax affairs and accounting going forward.
