Gambling Disorder Health Study Act

Key Points

• The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to launch a comprehensive research program on gambling disorder, including its origins, how it affects people over time, and what treatments might help.
• A major focus of the research is how mobile apps, online betting, and related technologies like video games, social media, and in-app purchases contribute to gambling problems.
• The study would compare how other developed countries regulate gambling and whether their public health approaches or risk reduction measures are more effective than what the U.S. currently does.
• Funding would come from 10 percent of federal excise taxes collected on wagers, tying the research budget directly to the gambling industry's revenue. The program is authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2029.
• HHS must deliver annual reports to Congress starting two years after enactment, including recommendations for new laws, treatments, and public health actions to reduce gambling harm.