Category Archives: Gambling

Burying Your Head in the Sand

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Russ

One of my favorite sayings (and I am not the one who came up with it) is “The Tax Code Giveth, The Tax Code Taketh Away.” It’s not fair, but we have to live with it as it is, not … Continue reading →

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IRS: DFS Sites Liable for Excise Tax on Wagering

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Russ

Back in 2015, I asked and answered the question on whether the DFS sites were liable for the excise tax on wagering. I came to the conclusion they were. In late July, the IRS came to the same conclusion: DFS … Continue reading →

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Professional Gamblers (and Other Gambling Businesses) Now Eligible for PPP Loans

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Russ

The Small Business Administration today released new guidance on the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans. Included in the guidance is an FAQ that states: Are businesses that receive revenue from legal gaming eligible for a PPP Loan? A business that … Continue reading →

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Can a Professional Gambler Apply for a PPP or EIDL Loan?

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Russ

The CARE Act added Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for businesses to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. A question many of our clients have asked is, “I’m a professional gambler. Can I apply for one … Continue reading →

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Online Gambling and Offshore Cryptocurrency Exchange Mailing Addresses for 2020

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Russ

If you have one or more foreign financial accounts and you have $10,000 aggregate in those account(s) at any time during 2019, you must file the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (the “FBAR”). This is Form 114 from … Continue reading →

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New York DFS & Gambling: It’s the Constitution

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Russ

There’s a quick way of doing many things that, in the long-run, doesn’t work so well; there’s a slower way of doing those same things that will always work. That’s true in tax, and it’s true for a legislature that’s … Continue reading →

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Gambling With an Edge Podcast

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Russ

I appeared on last week’s “Gambling With an Edge” podcast. We discussed the IRS letters sent to cryptocurrency users, does having a large number of W-2Gs increase audit risk, and sending tax returns by regular mail — and many other … Continue reading →

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Location, Location, Location: The Real Winners of the 2019 World Series of Poker

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Russ

This year was the 50th anniversary of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). And by all accounts, this year’s series of tournaments was highly successful. Attendance was up across the board. The Main Event, which concluded early this morning, was … Continue reading →

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WSOP and Taxes: 2019 Non-Update

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Russ

The 50th World Series of Poker begins today at the Rio Hotel and Casino here in Las Vegas. Good luck to all those who are participating this year. Regarding taxes and the WSOP, nothing has changed from 2018. Thus, you … Continue reading →

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Oklahoma Limits Itemized Deductions; Big Hit for Amateur Gamblers

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Russ

Suppose you’re an Oklahoma resident and enjoy gambling one of the many casinos in the Sooner State. You have $100,000 of gambling winnings and $100,000 of gambling losses. You itemize on your federal return anyway (you have mortgage interest, state … Continue reading →

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