Taxes on Sports Betting: How They Work, What’s Taxable
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
As online sports betting rolls out in more states, people are encountering legalized gambling in new ways. Whether you're wagering on the World Series from your couch or flying to Las Vegas for a weekend at the tables, understanding the tax implications is key.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind if you're lucky enough to be in the black.
Do you have to pay taxes on sports betting?
The IRS has clear-cut rules on gambling income that predate the recent explosion of the sports betting industry. In short, the proceeds from a successful sports wager are taxable income, just like your paycheck or capital gains from investment income.
"The U.S. tax code is very broad in how it defines what is taxable. Everything that you earn is taxable, unless it is otherwise said not to be," says April Walker, lead manager for tax practice and ethics with the American Institute of CPAs.
While you can write off some gambling losses if you itemize, that deduction can't exceed the amount of your winnings.
What is Form W-2G?
Gambling establishments, including digital operations such as online sportsbooks, usually provide you and the IRS with a record of your taxable winnings.
The statement is known as the W-2G, and it includes an overview of your gambling winnings, along with any withholding you elected when you gave the establishment your tax information.
Gambling businesses are required to report payouts they made that meet certain thresholds, according to the IRS. You'll likely receive one or more W-2G forms if you:
Won $1,200 or more playing bingo or slots.
Netted $1,500 or more from keno.
Exceeded $5,000 in winnings from a poker tournament.
Obtained $600 or more in another gambling endeavor, such as sports betting, and the payout was at least 300 times the amount you put on the line.
Businesses are required to send you Form W-2G by Jan. 31. So if you won big betting on the Super Bowl this year, for example, you should receive a form no later than Jan. 31, 2025.
» MORE: Questions on lottery taxes? Use our lottery tax calculator
Are all gambling winnings taxable?
It's worth noting that these requirements don't cover every potential situation in which you might win a bet. For instance, your winnings might be below these thresholds, but be mindful that you're supposed to pay taxes on anything you win. So if you get a W-2G, you can be sure the IRS knows about whatever the casino or sportsbook has listed there.
Similarly, the coworker who organized your office bracket pool is unlikely to send you and the IRS records of your participation.
How do you deduct gambling losses?
You can deduct gambling losses, but there are some significant challenges. For starters, you can't deduct more than the amount you took home in gaming revenue. If you're in the red for the year, don't expect to recoup those losses with tax deductions.
In addition, you won't be able to write off gambling losses unless you itemize your deductions. However, many people do not itemize, instead choosing to take the standard deduction, which knocks a set amount off your taxable income without you having to do anything.
For 2024 tax returns (taxes filed in 2025), the standard deduction is $14,600 for single filers and those married filing separately, $29,200 for those married filing jointly and $21,900 for heads of household. If your gambling losses, combined with all your other deductions, don't reach at least this number, you might not want to write off those bad bets.
Another consideration: If you're a professional gambler who makes a good chunk of your living from placing bets, you may have more freedom to deduct your losses. This, however, requires a whole other tax approach that may not make sense for casual gamblers.
Claiming gambling losses on your taxes
Another factor to consider when writing off gambling losses is that while a casino or sportsbook might send you a record of your gains, they're unlikely to break down what you lost. You'll need to keep your own records for these purposes, the IRS says.
"To deduct your losses, you must keep an accurate diary or similar record of your gambling winnings and losses and be able to provide receipts, tickets, statements, or other records that show the amount of both your winnings and losses," the agency says on its website.
It's a good idea to be vigilant with recordkeeping anyway. If you have documentation, you can ensure your information matches whatever records you might receive from a casino.
How do state taxes treat gambling?
Sports betting is legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia, according to the American Gaming Association. If you have gambling winnings, it's worthwhile to understand the tax considerations in the state where you live and where you gambled.
While you're most likely to have to settle up with your home state, tax rates and reporting requirements vary widely across the U.S. There may be local taxes that businesses are required to withhold as well.
Even FanDuel, one of the country's leading online sports betting platforms, doesn't hazard a guess about how states or municipalities will handle gambling proceeds.
"It depends on the state," FanDuel says on its website, adding that it might have to submit tax information "to one or more state taxing authorities."
» Learn more: State taxes and how they work
