Trump’s gambling tax law sparks uproar among high-stakes bettors and lawmakers
A quiet clause buried in Donald Trump’s latest legislation has stirred major controversy in Washington and beyond. His newly signed bill, dubbed the “big beautiful bill,” includes a gambling tax adjustment that’s riled professional gamblers and sparked bipartisan concern.
The law, passed last week, introduces a controversial change: gamblers must now pay tax on 10% of their losses. Winnings remain untaxed, but only 90% of losses will be deductible. This could slash profits for high-stakes players — in some cases, leaving them in the red even after a winning year.
The change, due to take effect in 2026, slipped through largely unnoticed. Many lawmakers now admit they had no idea the gambling clause was in the final bill.
“My understanding is that many Republicans and Democrats didn’t realise it was included,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. She’s joined forces with Nevada Representative Dina Titus to undo the damage.
Titus introduced the My Fair Bet Act on 7 July. It aims to fully restore loss deductions for gamblers. “People shouldn’t pay tax on money they haven’t won,” she said.
Democrats are pushing for a rollback, while Republicans, although not all opposed to the reversal, want Democratic concessions in return.
“There are Republicans walking the Capitol saying they didn’t even know about this policy,” noted Senator Ron Wyden.
With the law not set to take effect until 2026, the debate is far from over. But for now, high-rollers and casino industry insiders are watching closely — and not all are placing hopeful bets.
SkillOnNet brings Nolimit City’s slot games to Brazil via PlayUzu and BacanaPlay
SkillOnNet has expanded its presence in Brazil by launching Nolimit City’s entire game portfolio across its local brands, PlayUzu.bet.br and BacanaPlay.bet.br. This partnership marks the Brazilian debut of Nolimit City’s popular slot titles.
SkillOnNet was one of the first operators to secure a licence when Brazil officially launched its online gaming and betting market on 1 January 2025.
The operator’s growth in Latin America doesn’t stop at Brazil. SkillOnNet has also made moves in Mexico, partnering with major studios like Light & Wonder and ELK Studios.
Jani Kontturi, Head of Games at SkillOnNet, commented: “Partnering with Nolimit City in Brazil feels like a no-brainer. Their content is bold, original, and stands out in a crowded market.”
Malcolm Mizzi, COO and Commercial Director at Nolimit City, added: “Brazil has been on our radar from day one. We were among the first to certify games in the region. Going live with SkillOnNet is a big step forward.”
Dutch gambling loss limits cut high losses without driving players to illegal sites, says KSA
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has reported strong early results from new online gambling loss limits introduced on 1 October 2024. According to the regulator’s latest impact assessment, fewer players are now suffering high losses. Legal gambling operators also remain the main choice for Dutch players.
Key Points of the KSA Report
- Loss Limits Working:
Monthly net loss limits of €350 for adults and €150 for players under 24 have led to a clear drop in high losses. The average monthly loss per player has fallen by 31%, from €116 to €80. - Fewer High Deposits:
The number of over-24s depositing more than €700 has fallen from 9.7% to 2.2%. For players aged 18–24, deposits above €300 have dropped from 12% to just 1.9%. - Mandatory Checks Impact Behaviour:
Players requesting higher loss limits must now speak to the operator. This “contact moment” has caused the number of players setting high deposit limits to drop by over 50%. - Deposit Caps Enforced:
Operators must check if a player can afford large deposits. If not, they must block further deposits for the rest of the month. - Fewer Players Losing Big:
Before the rules, 4% of players lost over €1,000. Now only 1% do so with licensed operators. - No Evidence of Multi-Account Spending:
The average number of gambling accounts per player has stayed stable at 2.4, suggesting players aren’t opening more accounts to spend more.
The KSA says that 93% of Dutch players still use licensed operators. However, it acknowledges that some heavy gamblers may be moving to the illegal market.
Search traffic for the top 100 illegal gambling sites has gone up. This could indicate a rising interest in unlicensed platforms. The KSA will publish more details on this—especially figures based on money spent—in its upcoming report on the Dutch gambling tax hike.
Earlier, Kansspelautoriteit launched ‘Regulator 2.0’ to overhaul Dutch gambling oversight.
