Gambling Sessions Losses: $9,100. The tax return only needs this one simple combined sessions reporting to arrive at the correct $900 of gambling gains. Remember to deduct the excess allowed on Schedule A (losses up to total gains not reduced by sessions losses). Gambling can be exciting and fun. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites.

By Brad Polizzano, J.D., LL.M., New York City

Totaling a taxpayer's Forms W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, for the year would seem to be the straightforward way to determine the amount of gambling winnings to report on a tax return. Forms W-2G, however, do not necessarily capture all of a taxpayer's gambling winnings and losses for the year. How are these amounts reported and substantiated on a tax return? Does the answer change if the taxpayer seeks to make a living as a poker player? Do states tax gambling differently?

There are many nuances and recent developments under federal and state tax laws about gambling and other similar activities. With proper recordkeeping and guidance, a taxpayer with gambling winnings may significantly reduce audit exposure.

Income and Permitted Deductions

Under Sec. 61(a), all income from whatever source derived is includible in a U.S. resident's gross income. Whether the gambling winnings are $5 or $500,000, all amounts are taxable.

A taxpayer may deduct losses from wagering transactions to the extent of gains from those transactions under Sec. 165(d). For amateur gamblers, gambling losses are reported as an itemized deduction on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions. The law is not as kind to nonresidents: While nonresidents must also include U.S.-source gambling winnings as income, they cannot deduct gambling losses against those winnings. Nonresidents whose gambling winnings are connected to a trade or business may deduct gambling losses to the extent of winnings, however, under Sec. 873.

Case law and IRS guidance have established that a taxpayer may determine gambling winnings and losses on a session basis.

Neither the Code nor the regulations define the term 'transactions' as stated in Sec. 165(d). Tax Court cases have recognized that gross income from slot machine transactions is determined on a session basis (see Shollenberger, T.C. Memo. 2009-306; LaPlante, T.C. Memo. 2009-226).

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What Is a Session?

In 2008, the IRS Chief Counsel opined that a slot machine player recognizes a wagering gain or loss at the time she redeems her tokens because fluctuating wins and losses left in play are not accessions to wealth until the taxpayer can definitely calculate the amount realized (Advice Memorandum 2008-011). This method is also recognized in both Schollenberger and LaPlante, as a by-bet method would be unduly burdensome and unreasonable for taxpayers. To this end, the IRS issued Notice 2015-21, which provides taxpayers a proposed safe harbor to determine gains or losses from electronically tracked slot machine play.

Under Notice 2015-21, a taxpayer determines wagering gain or loss from electronically tracked slot machine play at the end of a single session of play, rather than on a by-bet basis. Electronically tracked slot machine play uses an electronic player system controlled by the gaming establishment—such as the use of a player's card—that records the amount a specific individual won and wagered on slot machine play. A single session of play begins when a taxpayer places a wager on a particular type of game and ends when the taxpayer completes his or her last wager on the same type of game before the end of the same calendar day.

A taxpayer recognizes a wagering gain if, at the end of a single session of play, the total dollar amount of payouts from electronically tracked slot machine play during that session exceeds the total dollar amount of wagers placed by the taxpayer on the electronically tracked slot machine play during that session. A taxpayer recognizes a wagering loss if, at the end of a single session of play, the total dollar amount of wagers placed by the taxpayer on electronically tracked slot machine play exceeds the total dollar amount of payouts from electronically tracked slot machine play during the session.

There is little to no guidance defining a session for other casino games, such as poker. Furthermore, because there are different poker game formats (cash and tournament) and game types (Texas hold 'em, pot limit Omaha, etc.), it is unclear whether the one-session-per-day analysis would apply to poker in general. A taxpayer who plays different types of poker games may have to record separate sessions for each type of poker game played each day.

In a 2015 Chief Counsel memorandum (CCM), the IRS concluded that a taxpayer's multiple buy-ins for the same poker tournament could not be aggregated for purposes of determining the reportable amount on a taxpayer's Form W-2G (CCM 20153601F). This analysis implies that the IRS may view each poker tournament buy-in as a separate gambling session. A key point leading to the conclusion was that the buy-ins were not identical because the tournament circumstances were different each time the taxpayer made an additional buy-in.

Requirement to Maintain Accurate Records

In Rev. Proc. 77-29, the IRS states that a taxpayer must keep an accurate diary or other similar record of all losses and winnings. According to Rev. Proc. 77-29, the diary should contain:

The date and type of the specific wager or wagering activity;
The name and address or location of the gambling establishment;
The names of other persons present at the gambling establishment; and
The amounts won or lost.

It is hard to believe the IRS would disallow a taxpayer's gambling loss deduction solely because the taxpayer did not write down in her diary the names of other persons at her blackjack table. The IRS does acknowledge that a taxpayer may prove winnings and losses with other documentation, such as statements of actual winnings from the gambling establishment.

Special Rules for Professional Gamblers

The professional gambler reports gambling winnings and losses for federal purposes on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business. A professional gambler is viewed as engaged in the trade or business of gambling. To compute business income, the taxpayer may net all wagering activity but cannot report an overall wagering loss. In addition, the taxpayer may deduct 'ordinary and necessary' business expenses (expenses other than wagers) incurred in connection with the business.

Whether a gambler is an amateur or a professional for tax purposes is based on the 'facts and circumstances.' In Groetzinger, 480 U.S. 23 (1987), the Supreme Court established the professional gambler standard: 'If one's gambling activity is pursued full time, in good faith, and with regularity, to the production of income for a livelihood, and is not a mere hobby, it is a trade or busine

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