Dana White slams new US tax rule on gambling deductions in letter to Trump
A new US tax rule on gambling deductions has drawn sharp criticism from UFC president Dana White. In a letter to Donald Trump, he warned that the change could harm legal betting markets and push bettors towards unregulated sites. The policy, which took effect this year, now limits how much gamblers can deduct from their losses. The rule was introduced in July 2025 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill and came into force on January 1, 2026. Before this, bettors could deduct 100% of their gambling losses against winnings. Now, only 90% can be claimed, meaning even those who break even may still owe tax on part of their earnings.
On May 11, 2026, White wrote to Trump, arguing that the change undermines the legal betting ecosystem. He claimed it weakens transparency and integrity protections while discouraging spending, tipping, and gambling in regulated markets. The UFC has long supported legal sports betting, forming sportsbook partnerships and backing state-level regulation since the 2018 fall of PASPA. White also warned that the policy could drive bettors towards unregulated platforms. He stressed that the rule harms not just gamblers but also Nevada workers and the broader legal betting industry.
The UFC president has called on Trump to push for a reversal of the new tax deduction rule. If unchanged, the policy will continue to reduce deductions for gambling losses while increasing tax burdens on winnings. The impact on legal betting markets and related industries remains a key concern for critics.
