Janet Mills, the Governor of Maine, signed a bill banning online sweepstakes casinos in the state on April 6, 2026, after lawmakers had approved and sent it to her desk on...
Trump’s budget bill faces criticism over gambling tax changes
President Donald Trump’s new budget bill, the “Big Beautiful Bill’ is facing severe criticism over tax changes that could harm professional gamblers and make major reductions in medical funding.
One controversial change limits how much gamblers can deduct in losses. Under current law, gamblers can deduct all losses up to the amount of their winnings, so they’re only taxed on net profits. The Senate plan limits deductions at 90% of annual winnings, including business expenses like travel and software used by professionals.
According to critics, this could lead to gamblers paying tax on income they never actually earned. For example, someone with $101,000 in winnings and $100,000 in losses would now be taxed as if they made $11,000 instead of $1,000.
Poker pro Phil Galfond commented:
“This makes it almost impossible to profit.”
Maria Coutant Skinner, CEO of McCall Behavioral Health Network, said:
“This is a crisis; it is emergent. I am really scared about what is going to happen.”
The bill also includes $930 billion in Medicaid cuts, targeting programs like overdose prevention.
The Senate approved its version of the bill Tuesday by a close 51–50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance submitting the deciding vote.
The bill now returns to the House. The final version of the bill is still being negotiated.
On April 2, 2026, the federal government of the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s administration filed a lawsuit against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois to stop the...
