Bill · S. 2773· Senate(119-S-2773)
WAGER Act
- Introduced
- 9/11/2025
- Last activity
- 9/11/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Catherine Cortez Masto
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the "Withdrawing Arduous Gaming Excise Rates Act" or the "WAGER Act." It aims to change the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Specifically, it would exempt sports betting from the tax on authorized wagers. This exemption applies to wagers on sporting events that are not prohibited by state law or tribal compacts. The changes would take effect for wagers placed after the act is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 17
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+4
Explicitly includes tribal-state gaming compacts, benefiting tribal gaming operations.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?+3
Upholds state and tribal authority by exempting wagers that are legal under their respective laws.
Would business owners be better off under this?+2
Positive for owners of gaming establishments and sportsbooks.
The opposite
Does this give the federal government more power?-2
Reduces federal excise tax authority over sports betting, shifting focus to state/tribal laws.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-1
Removing an excise tax reduces federal revenue, which could slightly increase the deficit.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-1
Eliminating a revenue stream is generally not viewed as increasing fiscal responsibility.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Tax Exemption for Sports Betting: Section 2(a) removes the excise tax on authorized wagers for sports betting that is legal under state law or tribal-state gaming compacts. This could be seen as a benefit by those placing wagers on sporting events.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for people are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+4Good For Business Owners+2Good For Billionaires+1Good For High Income Households+1Good For High Net Worth Individuals+1Good For Low Income Households+1Good For Middle Aged+1Good For Middle Class Households+1Good For Seniors+1Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals+1Good For Young Adults+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+2Reduces Small Business Taxes+2Improves Economic Growth+1Increases Job Creation+1Reduces Middle Class Taxes+1Improves Fiscal Responsibility-1Reduces National Debt-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+3Increases Federal Power-2
- 9/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi