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US Online Gambling Sites » Casino Guide » Gambling Winning Tax 2025

Gambling Winning Tax 2025

Publish Date: 08/20/2021
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

Gambling Winning Tax 2025

Being a responsible citizen means keeping your records safe and paying your taxes on time. So how exactly does gambling winning tax work, and what does it apply to?

We have everything you need to know about the implications when it comes to your sports betting winning tax and online casino winning taxes.

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Key Takeaways

  • Federal Tax requirements vary with each game
  • Gambling winning tax applies to both cash and non-cash winnings
  • A flat rate of 25% is deductible on all gambling winnings
  • You can use itemized deductions to claim back losses
  • State taxes are dependent on each state

Is Gambling Winning Tax Applicable In My State?

Participating in civil society as we know it means we all have to pay our taxes. While we’re all familiar with income tax, this is a whole different ball game.

Federal taxes are applicable nationwide, but state taxes vary with some states having a flat tax rate, while others don’t charge any tax.

It’s best to make sure what your state’s laws are. Regardless, you’re still under an obligation to report all of your gambling income, no matter how big or small your winnings were.

All Winnings are Reportable

All casino winnings, whether you won at a land-based casino or an online casino, sportsbook, or app, must be included in your tax return. You need to file your gambling winning tax so that you remain compliant and avoid issues with the Internal Revenue Service.

This is because your profits derived from gambling, by definition, forms part and parcel of your total taxable income.

Regardless of whether you’re in Las Vegas, where the casino already deducts your gambling winning tax, or using an online sportsbook where the odds were in your favor when you placed a bet on your favorite team to win a game, you’re obligated to report your winnings.

The sum of your winnings doesn’t matter either. Whether you’ve won big at the online slots for real money or if you’ve just won a fairly small amount using one of the many US gambling apps – you’re still required to report your gambling winning tax when you file for returns.

Winnings that were purely from a sportsbook promotion are also tax-deductible, so it’s best to make sure what this means for you.

Gambling online is legal in many states, since the recent changes in the law. This means that you need to report your gambling winning tax wherever you live.

When browsing new betting sites in the USA make sure that the one you select is tax compliant. All reliable and honest online casinos will be.

How is Gambling Winning Tax Calculated?

Regardless of whether you win $500,000 or $5000, the tax rate of 25% is the same because federal gambling tax isn’t progressive.

Federal tax is levied on cash, and non-cash winnings profited from playing bingo, lottery, gambling on sports, raffles, keno, sweepstakes, slots, and all gambling games. For non-cash winnings like vehicles, a cruise, or even a new phone, the Fair Market Value (or “FMV”) amount is taxable and must be reported as other income.

Of course, like with all tax, certain thresholds are applicable. The following amounts in winnings, as required by the Internal Revenue Service, are to be reported by the payer (the casino, bookmaker, etc.):

  • From $600 and up if your return is 300 or more times your bet or wager.
  • From $1200 and up from a slot or bingo game.
  • From $1500 and up in winnings received from a Keno game.
  • From $5000 and up from winnings received from poker tournaments.
  • Any other winnings subject to federal income tax “withholding” requirements.

For reporting purposes in the above instances, you’ll need to give the payer your Social Security Number and a filled-out IRS Form W2-G. Usually, the payer will deduct the 25% flat rate before paying out the balance to you.

Up to 30% of your winnings can be withheld if you fail to furnish the payer with your tax details. You need to ensure that you’re honest with the bookmaker, to avoid additional fees and penalties.

The W2-G Form isn’t required for winnings from table games like baccarat, roulette, craps, or blackjack. This doesn’t mean that you’re exempt from reporting your or paying gambling winning tax.

Any and all gambling winnings must be declared and reported to the IRS when filing your tax returns.

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Reporting Losses and Deductions: How Does It Work?

Reporting your gambling losses is just as mandatory as reporting your gambling winning tax. If you’re sincere about your losses, you can claim them back and save yourself some money.

However, there are specific requirements that need to be met, and you can only deduct your gambling losses to a certain extent.

Itemized Deductions:To set off your gambling losses against your winnings, you’ll have to opt for itemized deductions, instead of the standard ones. This can be problematic because the standard deductions are often a larger amount.

If this is the case, then it’s usually better to stick with the standard deduction and cut your gambling losses.

If you opt for itemized deductions, instead of reporting the net amount, it’s generally better to report losses separately from your gambling winning tax.

The usual 2% limit doesn’t apply to gamble losses, and these are generally filed under miscellaneous deductions.

Gambling Losses Can Only Be Set Off Against Gambling Wins:If you do decide to go with itemized deductions, you can’t use gambling losses to help you write off other taxes. Your losses can only be set off against your gambling winning tax.

For example, if you won $3000 but lost $4000 in the tax year, you can only deduct losses of up to $3000. The remaining $1000 gambling loss can’t be used to reduce other taxable income.

Additionally, you can’t deduct the costs of your wagers (being the original bet amount and things like travel, internet, etc.), so keep this in mind.

Keeping Records Is Crucial

The IRS requires you to keep detailed and complete records. This will help you accurately report your gambling winning tax and claim back on your losses with itemized deductions.

Your gambling log should include records of all your wagers, winnings and losses with information like the date and time of the wager, the amount won or lost, the betting activity type (with any other info like the slot machine number for slots, etc.), the names of anyone present during the gambling activities, and the name and address of the establishment.

While this can be tedious for many players, you can ask the casinos you use to keep track of your wins and losses by creating and sending you a statement on a regular basis. It will usually include all of the information you need for the IRS.

Other records like tickets, slips, bank statements, and payment receipts will also help you keep track of your activities and gambling winning tax and losses.

Professional Gambling

If you’re more than just a recreational gambler and you pursue gambling activities regularly to make a living, the tax implications change.

You might know how to gamble online successfully, and maybe you have extensive knowledge of how sportsbooks work, but do you know what the tax man expects from you?

Factors like whether or not you have a day (or night) job and your success as a professional gambler are taken into account. Mainly, the expectation and the probability of you generating a profit from your winnings are considered by the IRS and not just your performance.

As a Professional Gambler, essentially being self-employed, you can report your gambling winning tax under Schedule C instead of reporting your winnings as “Other Income” in Schedule A of form 1040.

However, even if you’re a professional player, you still can’t deduct any losses that exceed your winnings. You can deduct other costs relating to your trade to reduce your taxable income.

Things like magazines or guides that you use, some of your internet costs if you gamble online, and travel expenses if you attend events as a professional gambler. Remember that your winnings will also be subject to self-employment tax in this case.

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What Other Betting/Casino Guides & Strategies Are Available?

Now that you know what gambling winning tax implications to expect, perhaps you’d like to enhance your online gambling or sports betting education.

Whatever it might be, you can find a range of guides and strategies right here. Whether you need to sharpen your gambling over under skills, or if you want to know more about sportsbooks lines, our strategy section has it all.

Use our US online casino guide to find the top-rated casinos around.

Wondering what gambling in New Jersey is like? Or what the best online gambling sites in Pennsylvania are? We’ve got you covered.

You can learn more about online gambling deposit options and much more in our comprehensive Guide Section.

Conclusion

Income received from all betting and gambling activities is taxable. Each state makes its own laws regarding gambling tax too, so it’s best to make sure what’s required of you. While there’s a flat rate of 25% tax on all winnings, this also applies to non-cashing winnings.

However, you can also claim back your gambling losses, but this is subject to some specific conditions. Moreover, if you gamble for a living, the tax requirements differ. Regardless of whether you play occasionally or full-time, it’s best to keep detailed records of all your wins and losses.

Online gambling and sports betting bankroll management will help you keep tabs so that you’ll have no issues come tax season.

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