Dana White Urges Trump To Help Reverse The 90% Gambling Loss Rule

(AsiaGameHub) –   Dana White has requested President Donald Trump’s support for revising the newly enacted gambling tax deduction rule, claiming it negatively impacts bettors, Nevada employees, and the legal sports betting industry.

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Key Facts

• Bettors may now only deduct 90% of their gambling losses against winnings.
• The change became effective on Jan. 1 following its inclusion in the One Big Beautiful Bill in July 2025.
• White contends this regulation is driving some bettors toward unregulated online platforms.

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White submitted a letter dated May 11 to Trump, which was shared by gambling industry insider Dustin Gouker, after months of concern over the new tax law affecting gambling deductions. The UFC president and CEO argued that Congress should rescind the provision because it could result in taxpayers owing money even when their wins and losses balance out.

Previously, gamblers were permitted to deduct up to 100% of their losses against winnings. Any remaining losses beyond winnings could not be used to reduce other taxable income. With the new 90% limit, a bettor can break even yet still face taxation on a portion of their winnings.

White Warns Legal Betting Could Lose Customers

New: UFC President Dana White has sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to help reverse the 90 percent limit on gambling loss deductions for US taxpayers that became law last year.

The issue has been a concern for both bettors and the gambling industry itself. pic.twitter.com/WH9ukZi3mH

— Dustin Gouker (@DustinGouker) May 13, 2026

While praising Trump for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill, White urged him to advocate for a correction. He stated that “addressing this deduction issue would send a strong signal that the United States supports sensible regulation.”

White wrote:

“I believe Congress should address this issue as the policy is already causing problems. The current law makes it illogical to gamble in the United States because you might end up paying taxes even when you lose or incur a tax liability greater than your winnings.”

White also connected the issue to Nevada, where casinos, sportsbooks, hospitality workers, and tipped staff rely heavily on gambling activity. According to him, the rule reduces winning bettors’ willingness to spend, tip generously, or continue playing within the regulated market.

White wrote that “winning gamblers tend to tip more.” He added that bettors are becoming less generous when they do win “if they choose to gamble at all.”

The UFC has embraced legal sports betting since the repeal of PASPA in 2018. The company has established sportsbook sponsorships, collaborated with licensed operators, and supported state-level regulation of betting markets.

White informed Trump that the revised tax rule jeopardizes this system by steering some players toward offshore casinos, where tax treatment and regulatory oversight differ significantly. As outlined in his letter:

“The UFC supports a thriving, legal sports betting sector to boost fan engagement, broadcast value, and sponsorship opportunities. Discouraging legal betting undermines the ecosystem we’ve worked years to build in partnership with state regulators and licensed operators. It also weakens the transparency and integrity safeguards provided by legitimate betting platforms for professional sports.”

Lawmakers have previously attempted to overturn the 90% cap on gambling loss deductions amid opposition from both bettors and gaming industry representatives. White now brings a prominent voice to this effort, directly appealing to Trump for intervention.