How to use the casino winnings tax calculator
- Enter your total casino winnings for the year: slots, table games, video poker and poker combined.
- Enter your total casino losses.
- Choose your federal tax bracket and set your state income tax rate.
- Say whether you itemise or take the standard deduction.
You see the taxable casino income, the federal and state tax on it, and what you are left with after tax and the money you lost.
What the calculator assumes
- Casino winnings add to your other income and are taxed at your top federal rate.
- If you itemise, you deduct the smaller of 90% of your losses and your winnings. With the standard deduction you deduct nothing.
- The state rate applies to the same taxable amount.
Because casinos do not track every session, the totals you enter are your own records. That is why the log below matters.
What casinos report
| Type of win | W-2G issued |
|---|---|
| Slots and bingo | single win of $2,000 or more |
| Keno | $2,000 or more, net of the wager |
| Poker tournaments | $5,000 or more, net of the buy-in |
| Blackjack, craps, roulette and other table games | generally none |
If you get a W-2G, the IRS has a copy and your return has to match it. If you do not, the winnings are still yours to report. A W-2G is also not a sign that you owe more, it only means the win was reported.
Worked examples
A slot jackpot year. You win $15,000 in total and lose $9,000 on slots and tables. You itemise, you are in the 24% bracket and your state taxes at 4%.
- Deductible losses: 90% of $9,000 = $8,100, so $6,900 is taxable.
- Federal tax: $1,656. State tax: $276.
- You are left with $15,000 − $9,000 − $1,656 − $276 = $4,068.
The same year with the standard deduction. All $15,000 is taxable. Federal tax is $3,600 and state tax $600, so you are left with $1,800. That is a gap of over $2,000 for the same casino results.
One jackpot, no losses to claim. You win a $12,000 slot jackpot on a trip and have no other casino activity that year. If you give the casino your Social Security number, there is usually no withholding, so you will need to set aside the tax yourself, about $2,880 in the 24% bracket.
Keeping records at the casino
- Use your player's card on every visit, so the casino can give you a win and loss statement.
- Write down each session: date, casino, game, and the money you took in and out.
- Keep receipts of cash-outs, jackpot slips and any W-2G.
- Record online casino play from your account history, and save the annual statement.
Without records, the IRS can disallow your losses, so the deduction is only as good as your log.
Reduce the surprises
- If you win a big jackpot, put the tax aside straight away and ask a professional about estimated payments.
- Compare itemising with the standard deduction before you decide how to file.
- Remember the maths of the games: the RTP of a slot and the slot budget calculator show what a session costs on average before tax.
- Keep play within your limits. See responsible gambling.
Other tax calculators
- Gambling winnings tax calculator: the general rules for every kind of gambling.
- Sports betting tax calculator: sportsbook winnings and parlays.
- Prediction market tax calculator: event contracts on Kalshi and Polymarket.
- Sweepstakes prize tax calculator: redeemed prizes.
For how casino games pay, see the roulette odds calculator and the bonus comparison calculator.