WASHINGTON (KOLO & AP) — Nevada lawmakers are ramping up efforts to restore a tax deduction they say is essential to protecting the state’s gaming industry—after Senate Republicans blocked an attempt to undo a provision buried in President Trump’s massive new budget law.
The change, set to take effect in 2026, limits gamblers to deducting only 90% of their losses against their winnings. Under current law, gamblers who itemize can deduct 100% of losses, dollar for dollar, up to the amount of their winnings.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) tried to reverse the change on the Senate floor Thursday, requesting unanimous consent for a bill that would restore the full deduction. But Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) objected, stalling the measure and intensifying criticism from Cortez Masto and other Democrats.
“This makes no sense and it will do irreparable harm to our country’s gaming industry—especially in Nevada,” Cortez Masto said, warning the provision could drive events like the World Series of Poker offshore and into illegal markets.
Though her effort failed, Cortez Masto reintroduced the measure in committee, where it has bipartisan support. Nevada Rep. Dina Titus (D) introduced a House version called the Fair Bet Act, also co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Mark Amodei.
“The Senate got us into this mess,” Titus said in a statement. “Now it’s time for both chambers to unite behind my bipartisan Fair Bet Act to ensure that average and high-stakes gamblers do not pay taxes on money they never won.”
A Hidden Provision with Big Consequences
The provision in question was part of the 900-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law by President Trump last week. It includes sweeping tax cuts and spending changes, many of which lawmakers admit they’re only now beginning to fully understand.
“This new amendment would end professional gambling in the U.S. and hurt casual gamblers too,” pro poker player Phil Galfond warned on social media ahead of the bill’s passage.
Some lawmakers—including Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee—say they weren’t aware the gambling provision was in the bill until just days before the vote.
“Now I see Republican senators walking all over the Capitol saying they didn’t even know anything about this policy,” Wyden said. “When you rush a process like this and cram in policies you haven’t thought through, you risk serious consequences.”
The change could disproportionately impact professional gamblers and high-stakes players who itemize. For example, under the new law, someone who wins and loses $100,000 in the same year would still owe taxes on $10,000—despite breaking even.
Budget Tradeoffs and Political Gridlock
Republicans say the gambling deduction change was necessary to comply with reconciliation rules, allowing them to pass the legislation without Democratic support. It’s expected to raise $1.1 billion in tax revenue over eight years, according to the Congressional Budget Office, though the bill overall will add nearly $3.3 trillion to the deficit.
Sen. Young said he supports the change but would only consider undoing it if Democrats agreed to other provisions in return. “I strongly support the underlying bill, but will have to object unless you can agree to my request,” he said on the Senate floor.
Despite the setback, Cortez Masto says she’s not giving up. “I’m disappointed, but I’m not done,” she said. “We’ll continue to work to try to get S2230 passed. It’s just common sense.”
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Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.
Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.
“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”
During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.
Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.
Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.
For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.
A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.
Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.
What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.
The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.
So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.
I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.
Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.
Paul Selberg writes from Las Vegas.
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Las Vegas High’s baseball team claimed a 3-2 home win over Coronado on Friday.
Las Vegas (9-13-1) next hosts Rancho at 10 a.m. Saturday. Coronado (13-14) hosts Chaparral at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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