The problem with big omnibus-style spending bills — whether they’re “beautiful” or not — is that it’s pretty easy for a few horrible policy ideas to slip in without too many people noticing or caring before it actually becomes law.
Unsurprisingly, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July by President Donald Trump was no exception. Among the massive overspending, pet projects, policy compromises and political favoritism stuffed into the monstrosity to get it passed by both chambers, a little change to how Americans can deduct gambling losses was added to the bill in the eleventh hour.
At first glance, the change doesn’t seem that drastic.
