UFC CEO Dana White presses Trump again over controversial federal gambling tax limits

Suswati Basu

 

Dana White is pushing President Donald Trump to revisit a gambling tax provision tucked inside the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” adding another high-profile voice to a growing bipartisan campaign in Washington.

In a May 11, 2026 letter to the White House, the UFC president thanked Trump for supporting the sweeping legislation before turning to a tax change now facing heavy criticism from the gaming industry and several members of Congress. The provision limits gambling loss deductions to 90%, replacing the longstanding rule that allowed bettors to fully deduct losses against winnings.

“I write today to raise an issue we have discussed in the past: the need to reverse the 90 percent limit on gaming loss deductions for US taxpayers included in the OBBBA,” White wrote.

The tax change was scheduled to take effect for the 2026 tax year and has become one of the most disputed sections of the spending package. Industry groups and lawmakers argue the rule could leave some gamblers paying taxes despite finishing the year with net losses.

UFC CEO Dana White adds to gambling tax pressure mounting in Congress against Trump bill

White warned that the current structure could discourage legal wagering and weaken the regulated sports betting market that states have spent years building after the fall of the federal sports betting ban.

“The current law makes it irrational to bet in the United States because you could end up owing taxes even when you lose or having a tax bill that exceeds your winnings for the year,” the letter states.

He also tied the issue directly to the business side of professional sports and entertainment, where legal sportsbooks have become major advertising and sponsorship partners.

“Beyond that, the change has knock-on effects for businesses like mine,” White wrote. “When legal betting is discouraged, it hurts the ecosystem we’ve spent years building in partnership with state regulators and licensed operators.”

Nevada lawmakers quickly lined up behind the effort. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said she introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at restoring the full deduction and described the current policy as “nonsense.” 

Representative Dina Titus thanked White publicly for adding pressure on the administration, while Representative Steven Horsford again promoted his proposed “FULL HOUSE Act” as the clearest legislative fix.

The debate has already surfaced repeatedly in Congress. Earlier attempts to reverse the deduction cap stalled during negotiations surrounding the larger budget bill, but supporters say pressure has intensified as casinos, sportsbooks, and tax experts warn about unintended consequences.

The American Gaming Association also backed White’s intervention, saying the industry fears bettors could migrate toward offshore platforms that operate outside U.S. regulation and taxation.

White closed the letter by presenting the issue as both an economic and political test for the administration.

“Fixing this deduction issue would send a strong signal that the United States supports common-sense regulation,” he wrote. “You’ve always stood up for fighters, fans, and American businesses. This is another opportunity to do exactly that.”

Featured image: Andrius Petrucenia via WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Grok

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