The repeal of a small federal excise tax on sports wagers has been a goal of Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) for nearly a decade.
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So imagine her surprise when two Democratic colleagues announced legislation Thursday to not only keep the sports betting tax in place but to use half of the money raised by the levy to fund problem gambling treatment and research.
The legislation, authored by Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), wants to use 50 percent of the money raised by what has become known as the “handle tax” to create a funding stream dedicated to prevention, treatment and research into gambling addiction.
