Bill to Repeal Federal Wagering Excise Tax Refiled
Two legislators have once again filed to remove the 0.25 percent tax that has been in place since 1951.
Nevada Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada and Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler refiled legislation on Feb.18 to repeal the 0.25 percent federal excise tax on sports betting handle, reports Casino Reports.
It is the fourth consecutive session the co-chairs of the Congressional Gaming Caucus have combined for this bipartisan push. They also did so in 2019, 2021 and 2023. The federal excise tax has been in place since 1951, when it was introduced primarily to counter illegal gambling.
The tax revenue created has dramatically increased since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. There was nearly $148 billion wagered legally in 2024. That resulted in close to $370 million in tax revenue. That figure will end up slightly higher after Arizona reports its figures for November and December.
Churchill Downs Closes Retail Sportsbook
Citing the growth of online sports betting platforms, Churchill Downs racetrack Feb.9 shut down its in-person sportsbook, reports the Louisville Courier Journal. Bettors had until Feb.16 to collect on tickets in person. After that date, tickets could be mailed in. Consumers will still be able to bet on horse races, including the Kentucky Derby, at the venue.
According to the Courier Journal, in-person wagering accounted for 3.5 percent of all handle between September 2023-December 2024. The sportsbook opened in September 2023 when Kentucky regulators launched in-person and statewide digital betting.
“With 98 percent of sports betting made on mobile platforms such as FanDuel, there simply isn’t a profitable path forward for us to sustain profitability as a retail operator,” Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers said in a statement. “We’re going to focus our time and resources elsewhere.”
Will Vermonters Lose Chance to Wager?
Just over a year after legal digital sports betting launched in Vermont, three lawmakers filed a bill to end it. H133 seeks to repeal the laws that allow for legal sports betting and a state lottery. The bill is the first of its kind in a legal wagering state.
After being introduced Feb.4, H133 was sent to the Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee, but has not yet been put on the committee’s agenda for discussion.
Bill sponsor Rep. Troy Headrick told PlayUSA that he believes legal sports betting and lotteries are tantamount to “regressive” taxation.
ROGA Releases Responsible Gaming Suite Aimed at College Kids
The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) Feb.19 released a suite of responsible gaming and financial literacy tools aimed at helping college-aged consumers. “Know Your Play” is available to anyone interested in learning more about money habits, responsible gaming or mental health. The website also includes “exclusive” content available to anyone with a college code or who requests a code.
The website consists of videos on each topic, but according to a ROGA press release, the campaign will also include in-person “learning sessions” and workshops on some college campuses. The program was crafted in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health and the Responsible Gaming Council. Eight of the biggest U.S. gaming operators formed ROGA in March 2024.
“College students are learning to navigate newfound financial independence and equipping this age group with resources to make informed decisions that can build good financial habits will serve them throughout their lives, whether they engage in gaming or not,”
ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley said via press release. “While previous programs have focused on student-athletes, our campaign intends to educate the broader student population about responsible gaming concepts that can help this age group set realistic expectations and see gaming as a form of entertainment, not as a way of making money.”
In Other News …
A poll in North Carolina released late last week revealed that 58 percent of those surveyed support the idea of allowing land-based casinos in the state. The Meredith College poll included 703 voters aged 18 and over.
FanDuel was named “Sports Betting Business of the Year” and Fantasy Cares was selected “Fantasy Sports Business of the Year” by the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA). The organization released results Feb.19. Among the other winners was WagerWire, which was named “Best Innovation.”
