The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced Tuesday that it supports the recently introduced Providing Opportunities for Individuals In Need of Treatment & Support (POINTS) Act to help fund problem gambling efforts at a national level.
The bipartisan congressional bill is sponsored by by Democratic Reps. Andrea Salinas of Oregon and Troy Carter of Louisiana, as well as Republican Reps. Erin Houchin of Indiana and Marianette Miller-Meeks of Iowa. The bill proposes to allocate one-third of the funds generated by the 0.25% federal excise tax on sports wagers, which would have amounted to nearly $140 million in 2025 based on the $415 million the federal excise tax generated on commercial sports betting totaling $166 billion.
“Gambling addiction can quietly devastate families. The financial damage and emotional strain often build over time and affect far more than the person placing the bet. I’ve seen how those consequences can impact loved ones and communities,” Houchin said in a statement released by the NCPG. “As access to sports betting and online gambling grows, we have a responsibility to confront the addiction that can follow. The POINTS Act directs existing federal gaming revenue toward prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help people get back on their feet.”
An opportunity for funding to treat addiction
The POINTS Act proposes to amend the portion of the Public Health Service Act that is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It would establish a competitive grant program for states, as well as Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to expand prevention, screening, intervention, and treatment services related to problem gambling.
While a gambling disorder is recognized in the DSM-5 as an “addictive disorder,” there is no dedicated federal funding unlike drug and alcohol addiction. The NCPG said in its release the national social cost of problem gambling is estimated to be $14 billion annually.
In February, federal research funding for gambling-addiction research in the military was included for the first time as part of the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program in the Fiscal Year 2026 defense appropriations package. The POINTS Act would provide dedicated federal funding for the general public.
“The POINTS Act recognizes that gambling addiction is a public health issue requiring a coordinated national response,” said Heather L. Maurer, executive director of NCPG. “States and tribes need stable federal support to expand access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services. This legislation provides a responsible and sustainable funding mechanism to meet that need.”
Growing exposure, growing concern
The NCPG and The Harris Poll released a survey last week to coincide with March being Problem Gambling Awareness Month that found 65% of U.S. adults aged 21, the legal age minimum to wager in most states, and older reported participating in at least one form of gambling before age 21.
The survey also found nearly eight in 10 Americans (79%) said gambling addiction is as serious or more serious than alcohol or drug addiction. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) expressed concern about the impact of underage exposure to gambling or gambling-like activities.
“As sports betting and online gambling continue to expand across the country, we have a responsibility to ensure people struggling with addiction are not left behind,” Salinas said. “Gambling addiction can devastate individuals and families, yet too many communities still lack the resources needed to provide prevention, treatment, and recovery support.”
The POINTS Act helps close that gap by investing existing gambling excise tax revenue into programs that expand care, raise awareness, and connect people to the help they need.
