KTNV: Nevada lawmakers still working to undo gaming tax change

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Ever since President Donald Trump put his custom Sharpie pen to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, Nevada's federal lawmakers have been working to undo an obscure provision buried deep in its text.

The massive tax bill contained a small change that limits gamblers who deduct losses from their taxes to writing off just 90% of their losses against their winnings.

The upshot: A person could lose break-even for the year, but still owe taxes on money that they never saw.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the provision is unfair and should be repealed, but so far, no repeal effort has come to the floor.

That begs the question: If Republicans are for it, and Democrats are for it, why hasn't it been repealed? Republicans are reluctant to re-litigate the One Big Beautiful Bill, but a separate repeal measure could be brought to the floor and quickly passed, or perhaps attached to another bill.

But so far, that hasn't happened.

That would please everybody from casino owners with established sportsbooks to the American Gaming Association, the industry's Washington trade group.

Other members of Nevada's delegation said they were pushing hard for repeal, too.

“Republicans in Washington are already taking a sledgehammer to southern Nevada’s economy; their law limiting deductions for gambling losses to 90% against wins only further threatens our gaming economy," said Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., in a statement. "Without a 100% deduction, gamblers will owe taxes even when they break even or lose money. This will only push them away from Las Vegas, taking more money away from local casinos, hotels, and small businesses who are already struggling thanks to the Trump tourism slump. That’s why I'm working to pass a legislative fix to restore the 100% deduction for gambling losses.”