Titus Calls on Congress for Gambling Loss Tax Deduction

Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus is once again pushing for the full restoration of the federal tax deduction for gambling losses. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Titus asked that the FAIR BET Act be added to the large spending and other bills that must pass at the end of the congressional term.

The bill aims to repeal a controversial provision introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025. That provision reduced the share of gambling losses taxpayers can deduct from 100 percent to 90 percent. As a result, a gambler whose annual winnings and losses offset each other can still be taxed. For example, someone who reports $100,000 in winnings and $100,000 in losses still has $10,000 of taxable income under current rules.

Titus argues that the restriction applies the same way to professional gamblers and amateur bettors. She also warns that the provision could harm the regulated gambling market by pushing players toward offshore sites with weak consumer protections. According to Titus, the change could reduce local tax revenue and threaten investment and jobs in the industry. These concerns are especially important for Nevada, where gambling businesses play a large role in the local economy.

The bill was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee in September by a vote of 38 to 5 and attracted broad bipartisan support. However, it must still pass the full House, and at this stage the decision rests with the Republican leadership.

Titus first introduced the bill in July 2025. In September 2025, the Rules Committee refused to add the provision to the National Defense Authorization Act. In February 2026, she launched a petition campaign to bypass the committee and bring the bill directly to the floor, but it did not reach the required 218 signatures.

Democrats are expected to take control of the House in January after winning the midterm elections in November. Reports suggest Titus could renew her effort with the new majority if Republican leadership does not act on the bill before the current term ends.