Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Gaming Caucus, reintroduced legislation today to repeal the .25% excise tax placed on all legal sports bets, known as the “handle tax” first enacted in 1951 to counter illegal gambling and no longer relevant today.

“The Discriminatory Gaming Tax Repeal Act of 2025 repeals a tax that does nothing except penalize legal gaming operators for creating thousands of jobs in Nevada and 37 other states around the nation,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Illegal sportsbooks do not pay the .25% sports handle tax and the accompanying $50 per head tax on sportsbook employees, giving them an unfair advantage. I once asked the IRS where the revenue from the handle tax went in the federal budget and they didn’t even know. It makes no sense to give the illegal market an edge over legal sports books with a tax the federal government does not even track.”

“The U.S. gaming industry provides over one million jobs, including over 33,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, and generates more than 70 billion dollars for state and local governments throughout the country,” said Congressman Reschenthaler. “Unfortunately, outdated tax codes and burdensome regulations penalize legal operators and incentivize illegal activity. The Discriminatory Gaming Tax Repeal Act of 2025 will ensure the gaming industry can support good-paying jobs and promote economic growth in southwestern Pennsylvania and across the nation. I’m proud to join Gaming Caucus Co-Chair Titus in introducing this bipartisan legislation, and I urge our colleagues in the House to support it.”

Background: Reps. Titus and Reschenthaler introduced legislation to repeal the handle tax in 2019, 2021 and 2023, recognizing the economic importance of sports betting since its legalization in 2018. Sports betting is legal and operational in 38 states and Washington, D.C.