Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act
Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act
Plain Language Summary
# Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act (S 454) **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would establish federal grant programs to help address gambling addiction across the United States. It would direct the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide grants to states for treating and preventing gambling addiction, and would authorize the National Institute on Drug Abuse to fund research on the causes and treatment of gambling addiction. The funding would come from federal excise taxes collected on state-authorized betting (such as sports betting), and would be distributed to states based on the same formula used for other substance abuse funding programs. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This bill would primarily affect people struggling with gambling addiction, state health departments, mental health organizations, and researchers studying gambling disorders.
States would receive funding to develop treatment programs and prevention services, while research grants would support scientific studies on gambling addiction. The bill requires that Congress receive periodic reports on how effective these programs are at helping people recover from gambling addiction. The funding is authorized through 2034. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment ActThis bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide grants to states to address gambling addiction, and authorizes the National Institute on Drug Abuse to provide grants for research on gambling addiction.The bill authorizes appropriations for the grant programs through FY2034 from a portion of the revenue from the federal excise tax on state-authorized wagers (e.g., state-authorized sports betting).Additionally, SAMHSA must allocate its grants for addressing gambling addiction among the states in the same ratios as grants under the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant program. The bill also requires a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the programs established by the bill.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.