The GRIT Act, introduced in Congress on Thursday, aims to direct federal funds to gambling addiction research and treatment. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Positive step
A new proposal in Congress aims to create a federal funding framework for gambling addiction services in the United States. Oregon Representative Andrea Salinas and Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the Gambling Addiction Recovery and Investment Treatment (GRIT) Act on Thursday.
Half of the current federal tax revenue on sports
The GRIT Act would direct half of federal sports gaming tax revenues to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help research and treat problem gambling. 75% of these funds will focus on treatment and prevention through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Comprehensive Grant Program. The rest of the money will go toward research grants.
Extremely late
Passage of the GRIT Act would create a ten-year spending model, with the program’s effectiveness reviewed within three years. The GRIT Act would not require higher taxes due to the use of existing federal tax revenues. It would also not add any additional bureaucracy due to the use of existing Department of Health and Human Services procedures and programs.
The federal government takes 0.25% of every sports bet, which amounts to nearly $235 million in 2022.
National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) I welcomed the introduction of the GRIT Act. The organization’s board president, Susan Sheridan Tucker, believes this is long overdue, and said NCPG recognizes “the potential to make lasting change in the lives of individuals and families across the country.”
Money you desperately need
No federal funding currently goes to research or treatment services dedicated to problem gambling. This is despite NCPG studies estimating the annual social cost of this type of addiction at $7 billion, which includes health care and criminal justice expenses, as well as bankruptcies and job losses. Nearly seven million American adults suffer from gambling addiction.
NCPG does a lot to help combat rising addiction numbers, including running a national helpline, organizing Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and hosting an annual conference on the topic.
