What Is Your Opinion of Mailing W-2Gs to Players?

I understand that Aria and Cosmo offer quick pay options that mail W2G to players. Have seen it work in tribal casinos as well. What is your opinion on this feature?

Frankly, this question is the first we've heard of the W-2G mailing option.

Our opinion? It seems like a definite convenience for slot players, especially those on high-denom machines. The highest-denom video poker machines, for example, require the issuance of W-2Gs for hands as low as 3-of-a-kind.

However, we would highly recommend keeping very careful and detailed records of your own, especially at the time of the "jackpot" -- however low of a hand triggers a tax event. We know from personal experience (and Jean Scott fully corroborates it) that it's not uncommon for IRS records to be noticeably different from player records on the yearly summary.

QoDers whose play triggers tax events can probably weigh in on W-2Gs that don't show up on end-of-the-year casino summaries and vice versa: end-of-the-year summaries that list W-2Gs for jackpots that were never hit.

We'd like to hear about those personal experiences, along with any other relevant opinions about getting your W-2Gs mailed after the fact rather than issued on the spot.

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Comments

Kevin Lewis Feb-08-2024

W-2B (for Bullshit)

1. The inaccuracy of W-2G accounting, both by the casinos and the IRS, is legendary. This was a major reason why I stopped playing any games that could generate one.
2. Mailing a W-2G rather than giving the player one on the spot speeds things up and gets the player back to the game, so he can lose back the money he just won. So the casinos should love it.
3. It's kind of silly to give the player the fool thing at all, because the purpose of a W-2G isn't to inform the player that he just won (he already knows that); it's to fink on the player to the IRS.
4. Given the drastically and criminally unfair way the IRS treats gambling wins and losses, a simple receipt: "The US government thanks you for your jackpot" would suffice.

thebeachbum Feb-08-2024

Maybe Some Don't Care

Maybe some don't care about having taxes withheld on W-2G generated wins.  I do.  I do not play anything that uses the quick pay option.  No taxes are withheld.  I'm a pay as you go gambler.  I hate writing checks to the I R S.

Derick Feb-08-2024

mailer w2g

Wife and I play at Tampa Hard Rock. She is set up where she hits a w2g she hits button, puts in her code, hits another button and boom! Payout downloaded on machine and w2g mailed to house. Takes less than 3 mins.

Donzack Feb-08-2024

Sin tax

Some call taxes on gambling a sin tax. Gambling is not a sin but the amount and the way the government  takes our money is the sin.

Susan Johnson Feb-08-2024

Surprise W2-G

Last year I won a drawing for $1000 at the Hollywood in Lawrenceburg, IN.  I was quite surprised when a few weeks ago I received a W2-G in the mail for it.  Especially when Indiana is a state that withholds IN state taxes on a W2-G and they didn't take any on this payout.

Randall Ward Feb-08-2024

mailing?

my concern is the mailing, it's not reliable

Brent Peterson Feb-08-2024

What's Mail, Grandpa

I'd much rather have it emailed to me so I can check right then and there its existence and accuracy while having a semi-permanent record of it. Not sure of the legalities, but I assume the law is way behind the times given the $1200 threshold for a W-2G.

Raymond Feb-08-2024

Susan Johnson

Since the Hollywood (my favorite non-Vegas casino) withheld Indiana tax, they have to send you a W-2G.  You also "should" file an Indiana non-resident return for the year, but you're probably only losing about $3-$5 if you don't, also to back up your claim of income taxed by another state for your Ohio or Kentucky return.

Hoppy Feb-08-2024

Re: Raymond Ditto

Hollywood Indiana is one of my favorites. The moving sidewalk is cool!

Question of the Day - 08 February 2024

Comments