Sponsor
Richard Blumenthal
Senator · D-CT
Senator · D-CT
The bill directs new, formula-based federal funding and research toward gambling disorder treatment and prevention, improving care access and planning for states while creating modest federal fiscal costs and risks of funding variability, lost funds for non-applying states, and limited near-term program transparency.
People with gambling addiction and other mental-health/substance-use patients would get expanded and sustained federal grant funding for prevention and treatment services from FY2025–FY2034, increasing access to care.
State governments and local providers would receive funding allocated using the existing SAPTBG allocation ratios, giving them a predictable, formula-based grant stream that helps plan and scale service delivery.
Scientists, researchers, and clinicians would get new federal research funding focused on gambling disorder that could improve treatments and inform better policy decisions.
State and local programs could face funding volatility because grant amounts are tied to federal excise tax receipts, so if tax revenues fall year-to-year, programs may see sudden funding drops.
Taxpayers indirectly fund these grants through appropriations tied to excise tax estimates, which could divert federal revenue from other priorities.
Residents of states that fail to apply could lose their year's share of funding, reducing services for people with gambling addiction in non-applying states.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes FY2025–FY2034 grants for state gambling addiction services and NIDA research, funded by set percentages of annual wagering tax estimates.
Official title: Authorize the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to award formula grants to the States to address gambling addiction, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 6, 2025 by Richard Blumenthal · Last progress February 6, 2025
Creates a federal grant program to help states provide treatment, recovery, and prevention services for gambling addiction and funds research on gambling addiction. Grants to states follow the same allocation ratios used for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, unused shares may be reallocated, and the Director of NIDA may award research grants. The bill authorizes annual appropriations for FY2025–FY2034 tied to fixed percentages (37.5% and 12.5%) of the Treasury’s estimate of wagering tax receipts from the previous fiscal year, and requires an HHS report to Congress on program effectiveness within three years.