Article continues below advertisementFrank Ammirante September 23, 2025 I've been gambling long enough to know that the house edge never sleeps. But I didn't expect Uncle Sam to suddenly grab a seat at the blackjack table, grinning like a pit boss with fresh ammo. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective January 2026, every bettor in America just got a new silent partner: the IRS.Until now, the deal was straightforward: win big, lose big, and at tax time you could wash those figures against each other. Winnings and losses danced a fair two-step.