Gambling was once relegated to windowless palaces filled with flashing lights, slot machine pings, and the clatter of chips on poker tables. Today, it is as ubiquitous as social media.
The normalization of gambling has not, however, changed its deleterious effects on families. That is why Congress should celebrate, not reverse course, on its win in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will help curb the growing influence of sports betting.
Just six years ago, sports gambling was illegal just about everywhere in the United States. Today, thanks to a 2018 Supreme Court decision, it is legal in 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The easy accessibility to gambling has reduced the social stigma it once had, and it is now overwhelmingly acceptable to the population. In an August 2024 report, a record 9 out of 10 Americans consider sports betting an acceptable form of entertainment.
But just because gambling, sports betting in particular, is now found in every corner of society, it does not mean that it is any less harmful, particularly for women.
Even though most sports bettors are men, women are often forced to deal with the ramifications of their husbands’ or partners’ gambling addictions.
In a study by economists from the University of Southern California, the legalization of sports gambling increased the risk of a household going bankrupt by 25% to 30%. A separate study from Northwestern University found that legalized sports betting depletes household savings.
The effects of gambling are not just financial, however. A recent, more alarming study found that in states with legal sports betting, there is a 9% increase in domestic violence, the victims of which are usually women. And whatever stigma is still attached to gambling, women feel more acutely, meaning that they are far less likely to seek help than their male counterparts if they develop a serious addiction.
All of these effects are compounded by online sports betting. Research suggests that the rate of gambling problems is at least twice as high among online sports bettors as it is among any other kind of gambler, which, considering nearly 90% of all bets are now placed online, is very concerning.
Although framed as a fun way to enjoy athletic events, online sports betting adds nothing to American society. That is why we at Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee applaud Congress for passing a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to curb sports betting. Prior to the legislation, sports bettors could deduct 100% of their losses from their wins. But starting in 2026, the bill will narrowly increase the tax on gamblers by changing the deduction from 100% to 90%.
This minor change is a small step toward reducing the ease and attractiveness of endlessly placing bets on sporting events. But unbelievably, there is already a bipartisan effort to change the law back.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), sponsor of the Fair Accounting for Income Realized from Betting Earnings Taxation Act, said that the youngest voting bloc is driving the effort. She told reporters, “I think it’s people who are on the internet … I don’t think it’s just limited to the people directly impacted by gaming in Nevada. It’s a national issue because now everybody can gamble on their phone.”
Although she stated this to highlight why so many constituents want the provision changed, she unintentionally emphasized the problem — sports betting has become pervasive and is ensnaring more people than ever into destructive gambling habits.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), a cosponsor of the bill, has said that the provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is “unfair” and that it is an “overly punitive” tax on gambling, again revealing just how widely accepted gambling is now.
Laws are meant to direct and guide behavior. Once upon a time, most American jurisdictions had laws to relegate gambling to the fringes. Whether by having restrictions on where a casino could be built or prohibitions on advertising to minors, the legal code has long reflected that gambling is dangerous.
Yet legal online sports betting has eroded that societal ethos. By allowing gamblers to deduct all their losses from their wins, the government is tacitly rubber-stamping an activity harmful to families and society.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act took a small step in the right direction, but in reality, gamblers should not be able to deduct any losses. One professional sports bettor told the Wall Street Journal, regarding the provision passed in the bill, “More likely than not, I would owe more money in taxes than I actually made in 2026 if I continue betting. And so, as it stands, it becomes untenable to be a professional gambler.” To which we say: Good.
Maggie McKneely is a legislative strategist for Concerned Women for America.
