The Easy Vegas thread

You're right again. Yes, I did mean $5000, not $500, but as you point out, that doesn't apply to slot winnings or table games anyway. I just now updated the article to

• Correct the $500 to $5000
• Note that the 24% withholding applies to certain games like sports and lotteries, but not slots or table games
• Note that the withholding kicks in if you don't supply a SSN or TIN
• Link to the IRS doc that explains all this as a source. I'm supposed to cite my sources anyway, not just for readers, but for myself, so if in the future it's challenged I can see where I got the info.

So, thank you again. I hate accidentally publishing wrong info, so I greatly appreciate your help.

No prob!

So if you win between $5K and $10K on slots and you don't have a player's card and refuse to show ID & SSN#, you're just not getting paid until you show ID & SSN#. If you show ID and no SSN#, they withhold 24% of the winnings?

What bothers me about slot videos is that the channel host usually asks some bystander to hit the spin button on a slot machine, but never gives them a voucher for what they won on those slot pulls. If there's a hand pay, usually casinos say whoever pushed the spin button wins the hand pay. Are slot channels actually paying their bystanders any hand pays? No? Why not?

Close. Not showing ID and not providing SSN/TIN are two separate things.

If you don't show ID, you're not getting paid.

If you show ID, you're getting paid. The question is then whether the casino withholds 24% for taxes?

After showing ID, if you also provide SSN or TIN for a slot win, nothing is withheld. If you don't supply SSN/TIN, then the casino withholds the 24%.

Quote: Instructions for Form W2-G

A payee of gambling winnings meeting the reporting thresholds for bingo, keno, and slot machines, and a payee of gambling winnings meeting the withholding thresholds from horse racing, dog racing, jai alai, sweepstakes, wagering pools, lotteries, sports wagering, and certain other wagering transactions, but not from a state-conducted lottery, must present two forms of identification, one of which must include the payee’s photo. A completed and signed Form W-9 is acceptable as the nonphoto form of identification. Gaming establishments owned or licensed by a tribal government of a federally recognized Indian tribe may waive the photo ID requirement for payees who are members of that tribe and present a tribal member identification card issued by the same tribe.

So somebody could just walk away from a Major jackpot and not get paid. Probably shouldn't use your Player's Card when winning. #GrandJPsonly