USA
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Erin Houchin, has introduced the POINTS Act of 2026, a bill that would establish the first dedicated federal funding stream for gambling addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery in the United States. The introduction was made just last month, coinciding with the Problem Gaming Awareness Month 2026 (PGAM).
Online casino gaming and sports betting have grown tremendously in the past decade, and despite their accelerated growth, legislation and federal policy have cared too little about gambling-related harm besides standard responsible gaming safeguards. The POINTS Act is a direct response to that gap.
The act proposes that the existing federal excise tax contribute towards a structured federally governed problem gambling framework. Importantly, the act does not propose new taxes, but rather reallocates the funds already generated by the iGaming industry in the US.
A Federal Response to a Growing Problem
To date, responsibility for addressing gambling-related harm through legislation has largely fallen to individual states, resulting in a fragmented system of support and oversight. The POINTS Act marks a move in the right direction, addressing potential problems stemming from gambling at the national level.
H.R. 7875 is backed by Representatives Erin Houchin, Andrea Salinas, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Troy Carter. They have framed gambling issues as a public health concern, highlighting the broader impact of gambling addiction on families and communities. A growing problem that only increases with the spread of legalized gambling throughout the United States.
“Here, it’s worth noting that, in the absence of legalized gambling, we would have illegal gambling, with zero legal oversight or support systems. Even today, in states where online casinos are legalized, like New Jersey and Michigan, many players knowingly or unknowingly choose to play at casino sites that are operated from overseas. In the absence of legal options, even more people would play at unsafe online casinos (as opposed to safe casinos), and the issues currently addressed by local legislation and regulatory oversight, problems which the POINTS ACT aims to improve, would largely go unnoticed. I firmly believe that the right way to deal with online gambling is through legalization, with strict oversight and consumer protection, rather than banning and leaving people to seek out illegal alternatives that are easily accessible over the internet.”
Patrik Lidin, Online Casino Expert
Support and Scope of the POINTS Act of 2026
The bill has received backing from organizations including the National Council on Problem Gambling (NPCG) and Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG), which view it as a long-overdue federal step. Gambling disorder is already recognized in the DSM-5, yet federal funding has been absent until now.
If passed, the legislation would prioritize high-risk groups such as young adults, veterans, and rural communities, with programs administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.