Oregon Congresswoman Andrea Salinas and Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Thursday introduced the Gambling addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act, which would create the first-ever federal funding stream dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and study of gambling addiction in the U.S.

Among other things, the GRIT Act would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to set aside 50% of all federal sports excise tax revenue for gambling addiction treatment and research, with 75% of that pot distributed to states to dole out through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program. The remaining 25% wound fund National Institute of Drug Abuse grants for research into gambling addiction.

“Gambling addictions are hurting countless families, children, and communities in Oregon and across America. Yet unlike alcohol and drug addictions, there are currently no federal funds devoted solely to helping stop problem gambling,” Salinas said in a press release. “Our legislation will deliver much-needed resources to states and nonprofits, promoting new research and ensuring more people can get into treatment and recovery.”

Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), said in a separate statement, “This landmark legislation sets the stage to significantly bolster gambling addiction prevention, research, and treatment resources and make a positive lasting impact on individuals and communities nationwide.”

Severe social and economic costs

Earlier Thursday, Washington, D.C.-based consultant Brianne Doura-Schawohl participated in an international panel discussion on the future of responsible gambling, during which she lamented, “Here in the U.S., our federal government doesn’t even recognize gambling addiction.”

Doura-Schawohl went on to state that 2024 would finally be the year in which problem gambling got the attention, funding, and scrutiny it deserved. She could prove correct, though the legislation is still far from enactment.

11 years I’ve been in the PG space.

I’ve been privileged & humbled. PG is a public health issue that deserves recognition.

Grateful for the leadership of @SenBlumenthal & @RepSalinas for acknowledging the great need that exists https://t.co/so1D7ozsLf

— Brianne Doura Schawohl (@BrianneDoura) January 11, 2024

According to the NCPG, gambling addiction affects approximately 7 million American adults and carries severe social and economic consequences. The organization estimates the annual cost of problem gambling to be $7 billion when taking into account job loss and bankruptcy, as well as criminal justice and health care expenses.

Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images