Dana White once again combined politics, betting, and gaming. The president of the UFC, one of the most influential figures in sports entertainment in the United States, sent a letter to Donald Trump asking him to intervene against a tax measure that generated strong rejection in the gambling industry and also among professional poker players.
The issue concerns a tax modification approved last year that limits gambling loss deductions to 90% for U.S. taxpayers. In practice, many professionals argue that this can lead to situations where a person ends up paying taxes even in years when they barely made money or actually ended up negative.
The news was revealed by journalist Dustin Gouker and quickly generated a reaction on social media and specialized media. White, who has maintained a close relationship with Trump for years and was one of his most visible public supporters during the presidential campaigns, decided to get personally involved in the claim.
The impact would not only be for sports bettors. Professional poker also views the issue with great concern. In a game of thin margins and high variance, where players can move millions of dollars a year between buy-ins, cashes, and losses, the possibility of not deducting 100% of losses completely alters the tax structure for many U.S. grinders.
Dana White himself knows this environment well. Beyond the UFC, he has long been recognized as a fanatic of high stakes poker and heavy betting in Las Vegas casinos. He has even participated in private million-dollar games and maintained historic ties with poker figures and gambling operators.
The discussion also arises at a sensitive moment for the U.S. industry, which is experiencing enormous growth in legal sports betting following state expansions after the Supreme Court ruling in 2018. Operators, bettors, and professional players consider that this measure could discourage regulated gambling and push part of the activity toward offshore markets.
Now, the focus is on whether Trump takes up the claim and seeks to promote changes in tax legislation. Meanwhile, the debate remains strong in U.S. poker and betting.
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Dana White’s letter to Donald Trump
May 11, 2026
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Mr. President:
I wanted to personally thank you for getting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) across the finish line. It was a great effort and sent a clear message that your administration takes seriously keeping the U.S. economy strong.
I am writing today to raise an issue we have discussed in the past: the need to reverse the 90% limit on gambling loss deductions for U.S. taxpayers included in the OBBBA.
I believe Congress should fix this problem because the policy is already causing problems. The current law makes it irrational to gamble in the United States because one could end up owing taxes even when losing or receiving a tax bill that exceeds their annual winnings. Additionally, this undermines your flagship “No Tax on Tips” policy, which greatly benefits Nevada because big winners gave big tips, but now that this 90% limitation exists, players are likely to be less generous, if they even gamble at all.
Beyond that, the change has collateral effects for companies like mine. UFC supports a healthy and legal sports betting market to drive fan engagement, broadcast value, and sponsorships. When legal betting is discouraged, it harms the ecosystem we have spent years building in partnership with state regulators and licensed operators. It also undermines the transparency and integrity protections that legal betting provides to professional sports.
Fixing this deduction issue would send a strong signal that the United States supports common-sense regulation. You have always stood up for fighters, fans, and American businesses. This is another opportunity to do exactly that.
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Respectfully,
Dana White
President and CEO
