A bill introduced into Congress in May 2026 would fund a federal study into gambling addiction.
While so much is already known about gambling addiction and the highly addictive nature of online gambling products, some lawmakers believe more research can help.
Representatives Blake Moore, a Utah Republican, and Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, introduced the Gambling Disorder Health Study Act.
The bill, H. R. 8970, would require a multi-year investigation into the causes, development, demographics, and long-term effects of gambling addiction, as well as prevention, treatment, and intervention strategies.
Funding Source
The legislation would fund the study by using 10% of federal excise tax revenue collected from state-sanctioned sports wagers for up to three fiscal years.
Supporters say the federal government has collected gambling-related revenue while doing little to address gambling harm.
“We are in a new age of gambling addiction as sports betting and prediction markets have proliferated into every aspect of life,” Moore said. He said lawmakers need more evidence to craft solutions.
Goldman called gambling addiction “a growing public health crisis, especially for young men,” and said Congress must better understand how 24/7 betting apps and websites are affecting Americans.
Meanwhile, the sports betting industry supports the WAGER Act, which would repeal the federal excise tax.
How Does the Bill Differ From the POINTS Act?
The Gambling Disorder Health Study Act and the Providing Opportunities for Individuals in Need of Treatment and Support (POINTS) Act both address the public-health consequences of sports betting, but they would use federal wagering-tax revenue differently.
The POINTS Act, introduced earlier in 2026, focuses on expanding services. It would allocate one-third of existing federal excise-tax revenue from wagers to create a grant program within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. States and Tribal entities could use the funding for prevention, treatment, peer support, and public-awareness programs.
The two bills could complement each other.
The POINTS Act would direct resources toward people and communities already affected by gambling addiction. Meanwhile, the Gambling Disorder Health Study Act may strengthen the national evidence base, but it could duplicate existing knowledge.
Bigger Picture
The Gambling Disorder Health Study Act comes as access to gambling has rapidly increased since the Supreme Court’s 2018 Murphy v. NCAA decision, which allowed states to legalize sports betting. Sports betting has since expanded to 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The proposal cites data from the Siena Research Institute showing that 27% of Americans, and more than half of men ages 18 to 49, report having an active online sportsbook account.
The same poll found record rates of problem sports gambling.
The legislation is backed by groups including The Kennedy Forum, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Stop Predatory Gambling, Texans Against Gambling, the New York Council on Problem Gambling, and the National Council on Problem Gambling.