Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings
- Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings Rules
- Do You Pay Taxes On Blackjack Winnings
- Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings Winning
- Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings Payout
- Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings No Deposit
- Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings 2019
Winnings for table games like craps, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat don't require a Form W2-G, but this doesn't mean you're exempt from paying taxes on them. Rather, you'll need to prepare to. Most people may not play enough, or win enough, to think about paying blackjack taxes, but at Counting Edge we want every one to be a big winner. Here are a few things to know about online blackjack and taxes and might answer queries such as: “taxes on casino winnings” “casino taxes by state”, “do casinos withhold taxes on winnings.
Editor’s note: The following is not to be construed as tax advice. Always consult a tax professional before filing.
Gambling has begun to proliferate throughout the US. Sports betting in particular has taken off in multiple states. And with the expansion of gambling comes (hopefully) a flurry of wins for new and seasoned gamblers alike.
If you’re lucky enough to win any amount of money gambling–whether it’s at a casino, a sportsbook, or elsewhere–it’s important to brush up on tax laws. Gambling winnings are taxable income, but they aren’t subject to the same tax rules as your normal income.
Though they can seem a bit daunting at first, taxes on gambling winnings are fairly easy to understand with a little help. Here’s a top-level guide that can help you get started.
All Gambling Winnings Are Taxable
Yes, all of them. Fantasy football winnings, slot machine jackpots, scratch-off tickets, poker tournament payouts…it’s all taxable.
Essentially, anything you win from a game of chance is subject to be taxed. One common misconception is that winnings are only taxable beyond a certain threshold. This is untrue. Instead, gambling institutions (casinos, race tracks, sportsbooks, etc.) have thresholds that determine when they issue you specific tax forms.
To put it simply, whether you win $100 or $10,000, you need to pay taxes on those winnings.
In most cases, federal taxes on gambling winnings are 24%. Penalties can apply if you pay late or don’t report the winnings, though, so be diligent about tracking and reporting your earnings.
Form WG-2 For Big Wins
If you hit a big win, most gambling establishments will automatically give you a W2-G tax form. The threshold for receiving a Form W2-G varies based on the type of gambling and the amount you won. Here are the thresholds:
- Sports betting and fantasy sports (DFS included): $600
- Bingo and slot machines: $1,200
- Keno: $1,500
- Poker tournaments: $5,000
Table games–blackjack, craps, sic bo, baccarat, etc.– are exempt from Form W2-G rules. You still need to report your winnings, but you won’t receive a special form.
Lottery is absent from this list because the tax codes surrounding Powerball or other big lotto prizes can get more complex. If you win big on a lottery game, it’s best to get in touch with an accountant or tax service to assist you.
Online Sports Betting Wins: Form 1099
For sports bettors, the IRS Form 1099 will be the most common tax form. When you win more than $600 on a sportsbook site such as DraftKings, FanDuel, or PointsBet, the operator is required to send you a Form 1099-MISC. If you cash out those winnings with PayPal, you’ll get a Form 1099-K instead. Either way, this form helps you easily include your winnings with your yearly tax return.
Once again, remember that you’re still obligated to report your winnings even if you don’t receive a form from the sportsbook where you won money. They are only required to send you the form if you win more than $600. Winnings below that are still taxable; you just need to report them on your own.
Keep Track Of Your Wins
If you win money gambling, it’s crucial to keep a record of your wins and relevant information to make filing your taxes easy. To get started, keep track of the following information for each win:
- Win amount
- Original bet
- Type of gambling (online sports betting, Daily Fantasy Sports, slots, etc)
- Where you won (if online, name of the service/betting platform)
- Witnesses to your win, if applicable
- Tax forms give to you by the gambling institution, if applicable
This will help you file your taxes without needing to backtrack and find this information when it comes time to submit your info to the IRS.
You Can Deduct Losses, But There’s A Catch
The flip side of gambling winnings is, of course, losses. If you lose money gambling, you can deduct those losses when you file your tax return. But there are a few stipulations:
- To claim gambling losses as a deduction, you must itemize your deductions.
- You can only claim losses up to the winnings you claimed.
That first point (itemizing your deductions) means you can’t claim the standard deduction when you file your taxes. In many cases, itemizing just to claim a few gambling losses will end up losing you money on your tax return. It’s only advised to take this route if you already itemize your deductions.
The second point brings up another important point. If you won a total of $3,000 but lost $6,000 gambling, you can only deduct up to $3,000.
In other words, you should carefully consider the value of deducting your gambling losses. It can be helpful if you lost a significant chunk of money, but in many cases, it isn’t worth your while. If you’re unsure about whether to deduct gambling losses, I recommend contacting a tax professional.
Different Rules For Professional Gamblers
If you make your living gambling, most of the above rules don’t apply to you. When gambling is your full-time job, you can instead file as a self-employed person. You’re still subject to taxes on your winnings, but they are treated as normal income instead of gambling winnings.
Professional gamblers can also deduct certain costs as business expenses, lowering potential tax payments. This includes a percentage of your internet bill (if you gamble primarily online), travel expenses if you fly or drive to tournament locations, and other related costs.
Professional gambling makes the tax process look much different. If you fall into this category, finding a solid online tax platform or a tax advisor is a great course of action. These rules only apply to true full-time, professional gamblers. Otherwise, you could fall within the IRS rules for hobby losses, which can open you up to audit and increased taxes and penalties.
State Taxes Vary
While I’ve covered federal taxes here, it’s also important to find your state’s laws with regard to gambling winnings and taxes. Check with your state’s tax organization to find out which taxes you’re subject to in your jurisdiction.
Part of the fun of gambling is the suspense.
It wouldn’t be as exciting if you knew the outcome of your wagers ahead of time.
Another plus is that many types of gambling are legal in New Jersey. Casino gambling, horse racing, the state lottery, bingo and most recently, sports betting.
Gambling is even more fun when you win.
And, when you gamble at authorized NJ betting sites, you will be paid.
What you may not have given much thought to, though, is that NJ gambling winnings are taxable. Winnings obtained from illegal gambling applies here as well.
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the federal and New Jersey state laws concerning gambling winnings and taxes.
Are NJ gambling winnings taxable?
According to the IRS, gambling winnings in any state, including New Jersey, “are fully taxable and you must report the income on your tax return. Gambling income includes but isn’t limited to winnings from lotteries, raffles, horse races, and casinos. It includes cash winnings and the fair market value of prizes, such as cars and trips.”
The IRS doesn’t mention sports betting, but winnings therefrom also count as gambling winnings and are, thus, taxable.
How much are NJ gambling winnings taxed?
Whether you’re a New Jersey resident doesn’t have any bearing on your liability to pay federal and state taxes on your winnings.
So, this includes the total of your winnings, if any, that is withheld for state taxes.
However, the type of gambling and, whether the winnings are from a retail or online site, does matter.
Taxes on NJ state lottery winnings
Prior to 2009, NJ state lottery winnings were not taxable.
However, effective January 2009, New Jersey Lottery winnings in excess of $10,000 became subject to the state gross income tax.
The percentages withheld from the state lottery payouts of more than $10,000 are as follows.
If the payee provides a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN):
- 5% of payouts of $10,001 to $500,000.
- 8% of payouts more than $500,000.
If the payee does not provide a valid TIN:
- All payouts of more than $10,000 are taxed at 8%.
Rules on shared and multiple lottery wins
If two or more people win a given lottery prize and split the proceeds, as long as the total prize exceeds $10,000, it is taxed.
Each recipient must, therefore, assume liability for his or her share of the taxes even if the individual’s share does not exceed $10,000.
Furthermore, if a person wins the NJ Lottery more than once in the same year, each win is considered separately in determining whether or not it is taxed.
For example, a person who wins the lottery twice in one year, once for $6,000 and once for $5,000, would not have to pay any state tax on those winnings.
However, a person with a single state lottery win of $11,000 would have 5% of that amount withheld for state taxes.
Federal and state taxes on other NJ gambling winnings
The state lottery is one form of gambling in New Jersey for which winnings are taxable.
In fact, gambling operators must report individual wins over a certain amount for some types of gambling to the IRS.
Federal tax form W2-G
All New Jersey-licensed gambling establishments, including casinos and racetracks, are required by federal law to report certain gambling winnings to the IRS on Form W2-G.
However, the minimum win for this to happen varies, depending on the type of gambling, as indicated below:
- Horse Racing: Winnings exceeding $600 on a $2 wager or 300x any larger amount wagered.
- Slot Machines and Bingo: Winnings (not reduced by the amount wagered) that exceed $1,200.
- Keno: Winnings (reduced by the amount wagered) that exceed $1,500.
- Poker Tournaments: Winnings (reduced by the amount of the buy-in) that are more than $5,000.
Amount withheld from winnings for federal and state taxes
In every such instance, the gambling establishment must file Form W2-G to report the win to the IRS and send a copy of the form to the payee.
Since winners need this info to prepare their tax returns, they will usually receive a copy of Form W2-G in January of the following year.
Typically, the gambling facility, where the win occurred, will withhold a certain amount of the gambler’s winnings for federal and state taxes.
Before 2018, the standard withholding amount for federal taxes was 25% for those who provided a valid TIN and 28% for those who didn’t.
However, starting in 2018, the withholding rate for federal taxes is now a uniform 24%.
The amount withheld for state taxes varies from state to state.
In New Jersey, it is only 3%. That is the tax rate regardless of whether you live in New Jersey or not as long as the reportable winning took place in New Jersey.
The winner’s responsibility
The gambling facility must file Form W2-G and withhold the appropriate tax from your winnings if it meets the specified criteria.
But whether it does so or not, you still need to report your net gambling winnings as income when you file your tax return.
Obviously, gamblers who win big will find it disappointing, in most instances, to have to fork over a sizable chunk to the government.
But here’s some other news that may help you.
Ultimately, the amount of tax you owe on your gambling winnings will depend on your taxable income bracket. And, if you itemize your deductions, the extent to which you could offset those winnings with documentable gambling losses.
How gambling losses can help offset winnings
You can deduct your gambling losses, but only to the extent of your winnings.
If you lost more money gambling than you won that year, you could only deduct losses up to the amount reported as winnings. You cannot report any amount above that.
In other words, you can’t report your gambling income as a negative amount.
However, you can combine your losses from different types of gambling.
For example, if you won a big jackpot on a slots machine, but lost money on other casino games, poker and sports betting, then those losses count.
On the flip side, due to the recent substantial increase in the allotted amount you can take on your tax return as a standard deduction, itemizing your deductions may not be more beneficial tax-wise after all.
Seeking the advice and services of a professional accountant could be a worthwhile investment.
Which tax forms should you use to report gambling wins and losses?
If you are a casual gambler and received Form W-2G, be sure to include the winnings on that form. Also, include any tax withheld and any other gambling winnings you are reporting for the year on Form 1040 as “Other Income.”
Then, if you itemize your deductions, enter any offsetting gambling losses on line 28 of Schedule A (Other Miscellaneous Deductions.)
If it turns out that you paid more in taxes than you should have on your gambling winnings, you will receive a refund.
However, if too little money was withheld or you have other gambling winnings to report, you could owe more money in taxes.
In fact, casinos are not required to issue a W2-G and withhold taxes for winnings at table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps).
However, casinos expect players to keep track of such wins and include them on their tax returns.
The same applies to winnings from sports bets. You may be able to offset those wins, at least in part, with your gambling losses and other related expenses.
What happens if you receive a W-2G but don’t report the income on your tax return?
If you receive Form W-2G, whether money was withheld from your winnings or not, ignoring it is a mistake.
You need to file a tax return and show this income on the appropriate forms. If you don’t, the IRS will likely send you Form CP2000, which is a notice of underreported income.
You will be assessed additional taxes, penalties and interest on your unreported or underreported gambling winnings.
NJ taxes on sports betting winnings
If you win money from sports betting, you must pay taxes on those winnings as you would on other forms of gambling.
Furthermore, if you win more than $5,000 from betting during the calendar year, the NJ casino or racetrack is required to file a W-2G with the IRS.
In fact, for anyone betting anonymously at a retail sportsbook, keeping accurate tabs on wins for a year seems impossible.
Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings Rules
Of course, any betting that you do online or through a mobile app is tracked within your registered betting account. As a result, the gambling operator would have an accurate record of every transaction.
Sports betting winnings are subject to the same 24% federal tax rate as other gambling winnings.
The winners are also responsible for paying the applicable local taxes.
The current NJ tax rate is 8.5% for retail sportsbook wins and 13% for wins at online sportsbooks or on mobile apps.
Whether or not the place where the winning occurs reports it to the IRS, keep in mind, these winnings are taxable income. Therefore, it is a gambler’s responsibility to report them and pay any associated taxes.
As with any type of gambling winnings, if you itemize your deductions on your tax return, you can deduct your documentable losses. However, your reported losses cannot exceed your reported winnings.
Taxpaying rules for professional gamblers
If gambling is the way you earn your living, different rules and guidelines apply in determining your tax liability.
So, if you are a professional poker player, blackjack player or sports bettor, proceeds from gambling are considered regular earned income from self-employment and taxed accordingly.
Do You Pay Taxes On Blackjack Winnings
When filing your tax return, you must complete Schedule C, not Schedule A.
Here, you would name gambling as your business and deduct any gambling losses and other gambling-related costs as business expenses.
For example, you can deduct the cost of travel to a gambling facility, including the expenses associated with attending out-of-town gambling seminars and conferences. Also, you can deduct the costs for tournaments and handicapping contests.
Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings Winning
You can also deduct the fees you paid for professional services, part of your internet bill and the cost of any materials purchased to help make you a better gambler.
Accurate record-keeping for all gamblers is a must
Regardless of the type of gambling and whether it is a profession or recreational activity, there are benefits to keeping a betting diary.
Every time you gamble, record the date, place, type of bets made, and amount won or lost. This information will help you identify the types of situations that are the most profitable for you as well as others you should avoid.
Also, if you are over-betting your bankroll and need to cut down, your records will show you that as well.
Furthermore, no one wins 100% of the time.
Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings Payout
If you have reportable gambling winnings, you may be able to reduce your tax liability if you show that you have incurred significant losses.
Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings No Deposit
Besides a gambling diary, other types of acceptable documentation include:
Paying Taxes On Blackjack Winnings 2019
- Receipts
- Betting tickets
- Win-loss statements from gambling establishments