Nevada
Nevada lawmakers push to restore full gambling loss deduction after GOP blocks senate fix
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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Nevadans will elect officials to represent them in state government, ahead of next year’s biennial legislative session. According to the state: “Members of the Assembly are elected every two years, and Senators serve a term of four years. Legislators are only allowed to serve a total of twelve years in each house. This means that a legislator can serve in one house (Assembly or Senate) for twelve years, then serve in the other house (Assembly or Senate) for another twelve years.”
Lawmakers craft and balance a budget for two years, and work to pass legislation to protect the rights and freedoms of residents. Major priorities will likely include things like healthcare costs, education funding, data center regulations, and environmental protections.
Election Snapshot
- Primary Election: June 9, 2026
- General Election: November 3, 2026
- Nevada voters will choose party nominees in the primary election, then elect the legislator in the general election.
- Nevadans can vote by mail, early in person, or on Election Day (see Polling Places page).
- Mail ballots are automatically sent to all active registered voters. You can check your voter registration status here.
What Does the Assembly Do?
The Nevada State Assembly is one body of the state’s legislative branch of government. The Assembly, along with the State Senate, works to pass laws, pass budgets, and meets every two years at the Legislative Building in Carson City, Nev. The Nevada Constitution sets the maximum number of legislators to 75, and the number of Senators cannot be less than one-third, or more than one-half, of the number of Assembly members. Since 1983, the Nevada Legislature has had 21 members in the Senate and 42 members in the Assembly.
Many races for Assembly seats have no primary election, as there aren’t enough candidates. We’re listing those with primary decisions first.
Nevada Assembly District 25
Incumbent Selena La Rue Hatch (Democrat) has no challenger in the primary, so she will be on November’s general election ballot.
Republican Primary
Nevada Assembly District 39
Erich Obermayr (Democrat) has no challenger in the primary, so he will be on November’s general election ballot.
Republican Primary
Incumbent Blayne Osborn (Republican) is running against three challengers in June’s primary election.
Nevada Assembly District 40
This seat is open after incumbent Philip O’Neill did not file for reelection.
Oscar Fuentes (Democrat) has no challenger in the primary, so he will be on November’s general election ballot.
Republican Primary
Editor’s Note: Candidate Stacy M. Woodbury filled out the questionnaire from the Sierra Nevada Ally. You can read it here.
The following Assembly districts have no primary election, as the candidates for the general election have been decided.
Nevada Assembly District 24
Nevada Assembly District 26
Nevada Assembly District 27
Nevada Assembly District 30
Nevada Assembly District 31
Nevada Assembly District 32
Nevada Assembly District 33
Nevada Assembly District 38
The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
has named Mackenzie Warren Kay, a shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s State Government Relations Group, to its board of directors.
In her role, Warren Kay will support the organization’s strategic and fundraising efforts and serve on one of its committees.
“The Girl Scouts’ mission resonates with me on a personal level,” said Warren Kay. “I believe in giving every young woman the tools to be resilient, joyful, independent and confident to dream big—Girl Scouts does that.”
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A traffic incident near the Nevada-California border caused traffic delays for drivers along Interstate 15 Saturday morning, according to RTC of Southern Nevada.
The incident occurred on southbound I-15 before Yates Well Road near Nipton, California.
RTC told drivers to expect delays and traffic was moving slowly Saturday morning.
As of 2 p.m. Saturday, traffic was still backed up near the stateline.
Stay with 8 News Now for updates.
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