Gambling Disorder Health Study Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8970
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T18:32:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Gambling Disorder Health Study Act (H.R. 8970)
Purpose
This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a research program focused on advancing understanding of gambling disorder, including its origins, effects, and potential responses.
Key Provisions
- Findings: Notes the 2013 classification of gambling disorder as a behavioral addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the lack of dedicated federal funding or oversight, the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that enabled state sports betting, and the subsequent expansion of gambling access in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
- Research Program: Requires the Secretary to conduct or fund research through public or nonprofit entities, covering topics such as the disorder's historical emergence, psychological/social/economic impacts, effects of online and mobile gambling technologies, related behavioral activities like video games and social media, contributing factors including sports betting legalization, potential interventions and treatments, demographic analyses of affected individuals, and comparisons with regulatory approaches in other developed countries.
- Consultation and Collaboration: Mandates involvement with the National Institutes of Health, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Comptroller General, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, plus other federal, state, academic, and organizational partners.
- Reporting: Requires an initial report to Congress within two years of enactment, followed by annual reports detailing findings and recommendations on research, public health actions, treatments, and policies.
- Definitions: Defines "gambling disorder" to include pathological gambling, addiction, and compulsive gambling per the DSM; lists specific "gambling types" such as lotteries, sports betting, casino games, and online gambling.
- Funding: Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 equal to 10 percent of estimated taxes collected under Internal Revenue Code section 4401(a)(1) from the prior year, available until expended.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill creates a new federal research mandate under the Department of Health and Human Services, addressing the prior absence of any designated agency for national-level work on gambling disorder. It introduces a dedicated funding stream tied to existing gambling-related tax collections without altering tax rates or structures.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Assigns new research responsibilities to HHS and requires coordination with multiple federal entities, potentially increasing administrative workload and interagency collaboration.
- Citizens: May lead to improved data on prevalence, risk factors, and mitigation strategies for individuals experiencing gambling-related harm, though direct services or treatments are not funded.
- International Relations: Includes comparative analysis of policies in other countries, which could inform U.S. approaches but does not mandate changes to foreign policy or agreements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals diagnosed with or at risk for gambling disorder.
- Federal agencies including HHS, NIH, and the Comptroller General.
- State governments and regulatory bodies involved in gambling oversight.
- Academic institutions and nonprofit research organizations.
- Congress, through required reporting and oversight.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill references the Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association decision as context for increased gambling access but introduces no direct challenges to existing constitutional frameworks. It emphasizes public health framing over regulatory changes and ties funding to existing tax mechanisms, potentially raising questions about resource allocation priorities in Congress.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Gambling Disorder Health Study Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (7 pages)