Sponsors (4)
The bill directs federal grants to expand and target prevention and treatment for gambling disorder—especially for underserved and tribal communities—but relies on fluctuating excise-tax revenue and competitive grants that may leave some high‑need areas underfunded.
People at risk of or experiencing gambling addiction (including veterans, people with disabilities, and children/youth) will gain expanded access to prevention, screening, and treatment services through federal grants to states and tribes—funding can support provider training, telehealth, helplines, peer-support, and integration into primary care and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Native American and other disproportionately impacted communities are prioritized for grant funding, increasing the likelihood of culturally appropriate prevention and treatment services where need is high.
State and tribal governments (and indirectly taxpayers and service users) get greater transparency and oversight because grant programs must report to Congress, which supports accountability and evaluation of program effectiveness.
Taxpayers and programs face funding instability because grants rely on a portion of a specific Treasury excise tax (which can fluctuate) and funding adjustments tied to CPI‑U may not keep pace with actual healthcare and workforce cost growth, risking erosion of program purchasing power over time.
Under-resourced states, tribes, and communities (including many Native communities and rural areas) may be disadvantaged by competitive grant application requirements and by prioritization rather than guaranteed funding, leaving service gaps for high-need populations.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive grant program funding prevention, screening, and treatment services for clinical gambling addiction, prioritizing tribes, shortage areas, and culturally appropriate care.
Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program for providing services to individuals experiencing gambling addiction.
Introduced March 9, 2026 by Erin Houchin · Last progress March 9, 2026
Creates a new competitive grant program to help states, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations expand prevention, screening, assessment, intervention, and treatment services for people at risk of or experiencing clinical gambling addiction. Grants may fund provider training, prevention/outreach, specialized treatment (including in‑person and telehealth), peer support, helplines, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services; the program targets disproportionately impacted groups and health shortage areas and is funded by a formula tied to federal excise tax receipts from 2025.