How Much Federal Tax Do You Pay On Gambling Winnings

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Depending on the number of your winnings, your federal tax rate could be as high as 37 percent as per the lottery tax calculation. State and local tax rates vary by location. Some states don’t impose an income tax while others withhold over 15 percent. If you’ve earned your winnings at a gambling facility, that facility will actually issue you a tax form for those winnings at the start of tax season. However, this only happens if you win $600 or more (or if you’ve won at least 300 times at that facility).

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  • Your gambling winnings are generally subject to a flat 24% tax. However, for the following sources listed below, gambling winnings over $5,000 will be subject to income tax withholding: Any sweepstakes, lottery, or wagering pool (this can include payments made to the winner (s) of poker tournaments).
  • The tax rate deductible from your winnings is still the same irrespective of the amount you win. So it doesn't matter if you earn $2,000 or $400,000 because betting taxes are not progressive. In some cases, the tax (25%) is already deducted by the casino before you are paid your winning.
  • If you refuse to fill out the form or provide your Social Security number, most establishments will take 28 percent of your winnings, in accordance with federal law source: IRS. You don't have to fill out the W2-G form for winnings on table games, including craps, blackjack, pai gow, baccarat and roulette.
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This article was fact-checked by our editors and Jennifer Samuel, senior product specialist for Credit Karma Tax®.

Gambling may just be a hobby to you, but there’s nothing casual about it when it comes to filing your federal income taxes.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans gamble, according to a 2016 Gallup poll. And while you might think that winning a few bucks from a scratch ticket or a weekend trip to Vegas isn’t a big deal, the government considers every dollar you win from gambling as taxable income.

As a result, it’s important to understand how to report your gambling winnings, what to include and how you can use your losses in your favor. Here are some things you should know about how gambling winnings are taxed.

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1. You must report all your winnings

Depending on how much you won during the year, you may receive a Form W-2G listing your gambling winnings. But even if you don’t receive the form, you’re still required to report all your winnings as “other income” on your tax return.

“All cash and non-cash gambling winnings are taxable and should be reported as ‘other income,’ ” says Patrick Leddy, partner at Farmand, Farmand & Farmand LLP. This includes any winnings you received from casinos, lotteries, raffles or horse races. Non-cash winnings, such as prizes like cars or trips, are also considered taxable income and are taxed based on their fair market value.

To make sure you keep track of both your winnings and losses, record the following details every time you gamble:

  • The date and type of your gamble or gambling activity
  • The name and location of the gambling establishment
  • Names of other people who were with you, if applicable
  • How much you won or lost
  • Related receipts, bank statements and payment slips

2. You can deduct some losses

No one likes to talk about how much money they lost gambling. But when it comes to your tax return, being honest can save you money. That’s because the IRS allows you to deduct gambling losses.

Though you may not be able to deduct all your losses.

“Taxpayers can deduct gambling losses only up to the amount of their gambling winnings,” says Leddy, “and only if they itemize their deductions.”

How Much Federal Tax Do I Pay On Casino Winnings

For example, if your gambling winnings totaled $5,000 in the tax year, but you lost $6,000, you can only deduct $5,000 of those losses. Keep in mind, itemizing your deductions may not afford you the maximum tax benefit. If your total itemized deductions — which can also include charitable donations, home mortgage interest and medical expenses — don’t exceed your standard deduction, itemizing might not be the optimum choice for you.

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Can I deduct the cost of a gambling addiction recovery program?

IRS Publication 502 lists alcohol and drug-related addiction-recovery programs as eligible for the medical expense deduction. However, gambling addiction isn’t included. If you need help dealing with a gambling addiction, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s 24/7, 365-days-a-year hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

3. Even illegal gambling winnings are taxable

According to the American Gaming Association, it’s estimated that Americans spend more than $150 billion per year on illegal U.S. sports betting — and yes, that can include your office March Madness pool.

A May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling opened the door for states to legalize sports betting, but not all have done so. That said, any winnings you receive from betting on sports legally or illegally (or from any illegal activity, for that matter) are still taxable.

Learn more about sports betting and taxes

Bottom line

So how are gambling winnings taxed? Every dollar you win from gambling, whether legally or not, is considered taxable income. As a result, it’s critical that you keep a record of your winnings so that you can report them accurately. You’ll also want to keep track of your losses so that you can use them to qualify for a tax break.

Once you’re ready to file your taxes, Credit Karma Tax® can help show you where to include both your winnings and your losses so that you can maximize your tax refund if you’re owed one.

Jennifer Samuel, senior tax product specialist for Credit Karma Tax®, has more than a decade of experience in the tax preparation industry, including work as a tax analyst and tax preparation professional. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint Leo University. You can find her on LinkedIn.

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The glittering lights and ringing bells of the casino. The dream of winning the lottery. Gambling can be a lot of fun for most people, and when your number finally comes up -- well, isn't that the whole point?

Of course, we all want to go home big winners with a wad of cash in our pockets. However, once you win, the IRS does, too. In fact, they expect and require you to report your gambling winnings. Gambling winnings (which the IRS refers to as 'income') can include:

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  • Lotteries
  • Raffles
  • Horse/dog races
  • Noncash prizes -- like cars, trips or houses

What you need to report depends on how much you win, what type of gambling you were doing, and the ratio of your winnings to your wager.

Typically, you'll receive paperwork from the casino (or other source of your payout) to complete if you win a certain amount. You must provide your Social Security number and fill out IRS Form W-2G. This form is called 'Certain Gambling Winnings,' and allows you to report your winnings as income to Uncle Sam. You'll receive that paperwork if you win:

  • $600 or more from the state lottery, horse or dog races, jai alai or other wagering (but only if the winnings are 300 times the original wager)
  • $1,200 or more at a slot machine or bingo
  • $1,500 or more on keno (minus the amount you spent on tickets for the winning game)
  • $5,000 or more in poker tournaments

Typically in a winner situation of $5,000 or more (no matter what the game), the payee will not only require you to fill out the above-mentioned forms, but will also take 25 percent of your winnings up front to give directly to Uncle Sam [source: Bell]. If you refuse to fill out the form or provide your Social Security number, most establishments will take 28 percent of your winnings, in accordance with federal law [source: IRS].

How Much Federal Tax Do You Pay On Gambling Winnings Losses

You don't have to fill out the W2-G form for winnings on table games, including craps, blackjack, pai gow, baccarat and roulette. However, you still have to report those winnings when you file your regular income tax in April. On form 1040, on the 'Other Income' line (line 21) you report any other winnings, like prize or award money.

Here's where things can get a little more complicated. Just as you report your winnings to the IRS, you can also report your losses. On line 28 of form 1040, 'Other Miscellaneous Deductions,' if you have any gambling losses, note them there. However, your losses can't exceed your winnings. It's also important to note that you'll only want to do this if you're already itemizing your deductions and will end up deducting more than the standard [source: IRS]

All of this information illustrates why it's crucial to keep detailed records of your gambling -- both wins and losses -- especially if you do it often . Signing up for a player's card at a casino is a great idea, because the casino keeps an electronic record for you to easily access [source: Taxpertise].

The takeaway here is that the IRS treats any gambling or contest winnings as income. You should report all of it, even if the casino or other payee doesn't hand you a tax form to fill out. State tax laws apply too so be sure to check with your state's department of revenue to determine your liability [source: Ritchie].

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How much federal tax do you pay on gambling winnings taxes

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Sources

  • Bell, Kay. 'Reporting gambling winnings.' Bankrate. Feb. 3, 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.bankrate.com/finance/money-guides/reporting-gambling-winnings.aspx
  • IRS. 'Gambling Winnings Are Always Taxable Income.' Aug. 19, 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.irs.gov/uac/Gambling-Winnings-Are-Always-Taxable-Income
  • IRS. 'Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754.' 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2g.pdf
  • Ritchie, Josh. 'How Are Gambling Winnings Taxed?' TurboTax Blog. March 30, 2012. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/2012/03/30/how-are-gambling-winnings-taxed/
  • Roche, Yolanda S., E.A. and Roche, Roger C., E.A. 'The Taxman Cometh.' Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/features/taxlaws.html
  • Taxpertise. 'Uncle Sam Wants His Cut on Your Gambling Winnings.' FOXBusiness. Sept. 20, 2013. (Oct. 30, 2014) http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/09/19/uncle-sam-wants-his-cut-on-your-gambling-winnings/