U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., have introduced legislation that would exempt the nation’s sportsbooks from paying a tax on every bet placed and an annual head tax imposed for every sportsbook employee.

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The legislation, known as the WAGER Act, for Withdrawing Arduous Gaming Excise Rates, is similar to bipartisan legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., in March 2023.

If approved and signed into law, it would exempt legal sportsbooks from paying a 0.25 percent handle tax per wager and a $50 annual fee per sportsbook employee to the federal government.