Reschenthaler, Titus Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Repeal Excise Tax on Legal Sports Bets
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Gaming Caucus, reintroduced the Discriminatory Gaming Tax Repeal Act of 2025, legislation to repeal the 0.25% excise tax placed on all legal sports bets, known as the “handle tax.”
“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 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 “Unfortunately, outdated tax codes and burdensome regulations penalize legal operators and incentivize illegal activity.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 reintroducing this bipartisan legislation, and I urge our colleagues in the House to support it.”
“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,” said Titus. “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.”
Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation for total gaming revenue generated, grossing $5.86 billion in 2023. The state also brought in $2.3 billion in direct gaming tax revenue in 2023, the highest amount in the nation.
The Congressional Gaming Caucus comprises a broad representation of more than 20 members of Congress from across the country. It serves as a platform to discuss federal policy issues related to the U.S. gaming industry and educate congressional colleagues on related regulatory and legislative matters.
Reschenthaler and Titus also introduced this legislation in the 117th and 118th Congress.
View the full bill here.