- A new bill, titled the POINTS Act, proposes a share of tax revenue from sports betting to be allocated to problem gambling efforts.
- This amount was estimated to be $140 million in 2025 and will likely rise in 2026.
- The National Council on Problem Gambling came out in support of the bill.
WASHINGTON – With the broad legalization of sports betting in recent years, many in government have made problem gambling a point of emphasis.
Now, the federal government is working on potential solutions, recently introducing the Providing Opportunities for Individuals In Need of Treatment & Support (POINTS) Act, which proposes directing one-third of the federal excise tax on sports betting to funding problem gambling prevention and treatment efforts.
That total would have been estimated to be around $140 million in 2025.
The National Council on Problem Gambling announced its support for the legislation on Tuesday, which marks a major milestone in advancing the bill.
The NCPG found that 65% of 21-year-old adults in the U.S. reported sports betting prior to reaching the legal sports betting age limit. The same survey found that 79% of Americans consider gambling addiction to be as or more serious than alcohol or drug addiction.
Despite this, there has yet to be federal funding put in place specifically to combat the issue.
Sports betting sites may be forced to change policies and regulations depending on the final language of the bill, particularly regarding how tax revenue is allocated.
