Congresswoman Dina Titus Advocates for Repealing Federal Excise Tax on Sports Betting

The event brought together executives from major operators to discuss emerging opportunities in the market.

Titus’s Video Message

Although Congresswoman Titus was unable to attend the summit in person, she contributed through a 15-minute video message.

As the co-chair of the Congressional Gaming Caucus and a long-time opponent of the federal excise tax on sports wagers, Titus reiterated her stance on the need to abolish the tax.

Criticism of the Federal Excise Tax

Currently, sports betting operators are required to pay a 0.25% tax on their total sports betting handle. Titus criticized this tax, describing it as one that “serves no dedicated purpose” and instead penalizes regulated industry operators.

She argued that the tax benefits illegal operators who can offer better odds since they are not subject to this financial burden.

Over the past decade, Titus has introduced several bills aiming to repeal the tax, though these efforts have not gained significant traction. Her most recent attempt, HR 1661, was introduced in March 2023 with bipartisan support.

Opposition to the GRIT Act

Titus also addressed the Gambling Addiction, Investment, and Treatment Act (GRIT), which proposes to allocate 50% of the federal excise tax funds to support problem gambling initiatives.

While Titus supports investments in responsible gaming resources, she believes that using the tax handle to fund these efforts unfairly impacts legal operators. S

he emphasized that sports betting operators are already investing substantial amounts into responsible gaming and that each state allocates funds for this purpose.