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Question of the Day - 22 February 2026

Q:

Who manages the slot machines in gas stations and convenience stores? I read you don't want to get a hand pay at one of those because someone has to drive there to pay you because the store isn't set up to issue W-2G, nor has the cash for a payout.

And

It seems like everywhere you go in Las Vegas you’ll a small row of video poker machines. They’re in some supermarkets, some stores, laundromats, and those mini-marts at gas stations. Has anyone ever won a significant amount of money at one of those? Do they issue tax forms if someone wins enough money to need one?

A:

Yes, people who play machines outside of casinos in Las Vegas, such as at supermarkets, laundromats, mini-marts, etc., do hit jackpots that require large payouts and tax forms. It happens all the time.

These machines are owned and managed by third-party providers. In Nevada, the Herbst family used to be big into slot routes, as was Golden Entertainment. One of the key providers of slots in the Midwest, now expanding into the Silver State, is Accel Entertainment. We started with them. And we found that you're quite correct.

“Accel just sends someone out,” said Joseph Jaffoni, vice president of that slot-route operator. He said how long it takes to arrive at a location where someone has hit a hand-pay jackpot is mostly contingent on the slot tech’s schedule, traffic on the roads, and sundry other intangible factors.

Golden has sold its Nevada and Montana slot routes to J&J Gaming. Unfortunately, repeated calls to J&J did not produce any response, although we suspect they handle payouts much as the competition does.

 

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  • Kevin Lewis Feb-22-2026
    Only a fool would play
    These slot operators aren't subjected to the same scrutiny and regulation as the casinos are. While the Vegas casinos aren't exactly saints, you know you're not getting cheated. You have no such assurance if you succumb to the urge to play at Quickie Mart. There was a scandal many years ago when a slot operator--I think they were called American Coin--was found to have rigged its video poker machines so that a royal was impossible. That sure solved that pesky gotta call somebody to make the hand pay problem!!

  • Kevin Rough Feb-22-2026
    TITO Kiosks
    In Pennsylvania, many of the convenience stores that now have "skill games" have TITO kiosks to cash out your tickets similar to those in a casino.  As a tax preparer, I have seen a couple of W2Gs from convenience stores and they've always been handwritten.