Gambling addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act
The GRIT Act would set aside half of the federal sports excise tax revenue to fund programs for gambling addiction prevention, treatment and research.
The GRIT Act Would:
- Set aside 50% of the federal sports excise tax revenue for gambling addiction treatment and research.
- Authorize spending for 10 years and require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the program within three years of passage.
- Not increase taxes on Americans; it simply sets aside a funding stream for problem gambling treatment and research that will continue to increase as online sports wagering becomes more prominent.
- Not increase government bureaucracy, but rather utilizes existing HHS programs and procedures.
Show Your Support for the GRIT Act
NCPG is gathering a list of organizations and individuals that support the Gambling addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act. Publicly show your support for the GRIT Act by adding your name.
Why the GRIT Act Matters
- The national annual social cost of problem gambling is $14 billion.
- NCPG estimates 9 million American adults suffer from gambling addiction.
- There are currently no federal funds designated for problem gambling treatment or research, unlike the billions in funding for alcohol, tobacco, and drug addiction.
- The federal government levies an excise tax of 0.25% on all money wagered on sports in the United States, which is deposited in the general fund.
- From FY20 to FY21, the revenue from the federal sports gambling excise tax alone has increased from $38.7 million to $110.7 million. NCPG estimates this tax had $250 million in revenue in 2023. This number is likely to continue to increase as more states legalize sports gambling.
Ask Your Elected Officials to Support the GRIT Act
Contact your state’s leaders and ask them to support the Gambling addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act.
S.3579
A bill to authorize the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to award formula grants to the States to address gambling addiction, and for other purposes.
H.R.6982
To authorize the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to award formula grants to the States to address gambling addiction, and for other purposes.
Despite the prevalence of gambling addiction in the United States, no federal agency is tasked with addressing it, and no federal funds are designated for treatment or research.