Category Archives: Gambling

Apparently Much Faster than Neteller

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Russ

The one question I have been asked many times by my clients with money held up because of the Department of Justice’s action against online poker sites is, “When will I get my money back?” The answer appears to be … Continue reading →

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DOJ Indicts Major Online Poker Sites

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Russ

As if my day wasn’t hectic enough, out of New York (and San Francisco) comes news that the DOJ has indicted the three largest US-facing online poker sites: Full Tilt, PokerStars, and Ultimate Bet/Absolute Poker. The indictment charges a variety … Continue reading →

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Avoiding Floor Decisions

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Russ

A number of people, especially my poker friends, have asked me why I would want to be a tax accountant. It does seem like an odd shift from professional poker player to tax accountant, at least on the surface. The … Continue reading →

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Will California Start Their Own Online Poker Sites?

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Russ

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you know that California is broke. The budget deficit for next year is projected at somewhere between $25 and $30 billion. That has caused legislators in the Bronze Golden State to look at online … Continue reading →

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Paper, Money, and Chips: How to Cause Problems with Poker Satellites in Florida

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Russ

From the standpoint of taxes, if I you win a poker tournament and I pay you in cash, a check, or casino chips, there’s no difference. All are negotiable (or fungible) monetary instruments. That’s basic. But what happens when you … Continue reading →

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FBARs No Longer Required for Poker Accounts

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Russ

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) published revised regulations for the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) in the Federal Register today. Poker accounts were reportable because they were pooled accounts with the money held in one central … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling, IRS | Tagged | 9 Comments

Making $35,000 While Gambling with $800,000 Doesn’t Compute

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Russ

Even if you lose as a gambler, you’re supposed to report the income. Today, the Tax Court took up the case of a gambler who lost in more ways than one. Our unlucky gambler spent quite a bit of time … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling, Tax Court | 2 Comments

Two Casino Chip Theft Cases, Two Arrests (Illegal Income Primer)

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Russ

When I learned math, I learned that 1 times any number is that other number, and that 0 times any number is 0. So if I steal 400,000,000,000 play money poker chips (each can be converted to absolutely nothing), I’ve … Continue reading →

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A Galloping Win for Gamblers in Tax Court (With a Loss on the Side)

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Russ

The Tax Court looked today at the case of a professional gambler who lost money both on his wagers and his expenses in 2001. The petitioner tried to deduct his gambling losses in excess of his wins and his business … Continue reading →

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And I Thought Denmark Had High Taxes for Gamblers…

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Russ

The name “Isildur” may mean nothing to you. Perhaps you remember Isildur as a character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings. For those who follow online poker, the name Isildur means screenname Isildur1. Isildur1 played high-stakes poker … Continue reading →

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