Last year, Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which included sweeping changes to the tax code in the United States. Now, UFC President Dana White wants Trump to reverse a provision in that new law.
In a letter written to Trump this week, White called on the president to “reverse” a provision in the law that caps gambling loss deductions at 90%. White argued that the policy is “creating problems.”
90% limit on gambling deductions
Under the OBBBA, as of Jan. 1, taxpayers can only deduct 90% of their gambling losses against their winnings, which is down from 100% previously.
That missing 10% doesn’t carry forward or offset other income — it just disappears, and you pay tax on it anyway. That means that even if gamblers break even or owe money at the casino, they would still owe the IRS when it comes to tax season.
The rule applies to all forms of gambling: casinos, sportsbooks, DFS, racetracks, lotteries, and online gaming. Casual and professional gamblers alike.
Dana White wants change
In a letter to Trump this week, White called for Trump to eliminate this provision in the bill. While White made it clear that he appreciates the OBBBA as a whole, he thinks that this provision is “creating problems” for Americans.
“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 ОВВВА,” White wrote in his letter.
White claimed that under the new law, it is now “irrational” to bet in the United States, and it undermines the No Tax on Tips provision of the OBBBA.
“I believe Congress should fix this issue as the policy is already creating problems. 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. Furthermore, this has the impact of setting back your signature policy No Tax on Tips which greatly benefits Nevadans because gamblers who win big, tip big, but now that this 90 percent limitation exists gamblers are likely to be less generous if they even gamble at all,” White wrote in his letter.
White also argued that this policy hurts the sports industry generally, as well.
“Beyond that, the change has knock-on effects for businesses like mine. The UFC supports a healthy, legal sports betting market to drive fan engagement, broadcast value, and sponsorships. When legal betting is discouraged, it hurts the ecosystem we’ve spent years building in partnership with state regulators and licensed operators. It also undercuts the transparency and integrity protections that legal betting provides for professional sports,” White wrote.
White said that a change would be “common-sense.”
“Fixing this deduction issue would send a strong signal that the United States supports common-sense regulation. You’ve always stood up for fighters, fans, and American businesses. This is another opportunity to do exactly that.
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