Question of the Day - 05 January 2023

Many people think the casinos can control jackpots. I’ve heard some say, “They’re saving it for the holiday” (or the weekend). Is this possible?

With computers, (practically) anything's possible. But with the random number generators that generally determine the outcomes of slot machines, not so much.

Both are beside the point, at least as far as how the casinos manage their slot floors is concerned. It's against gaming regulations for anyone, casinos and players, to "control" the outcome of a gambling game, of which "saving it for the holiday" would be a prime example. And with the average hold of a slot machine at around $250 per day, the casino would be short-sighted indeed to do anything illicit, such as gaffing a slot in order to delay a jackpot for some more opportune time, which could threaten their money-minting licenses. 

Can I get a Nevada seasonal ID if my home is in Canada?

Sorry, but no. Here's the rule straight off the website for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles: "Seasonal resident identification cards are marked with a designation that the holder is a seasonal resident and is licensed in another state [italics our own]. You must meet the requirements for a Nevada ID card. These cards are not issued to tourists from foreign countries."

What's the deal with the "no-swearing-on-the-mic" rule at Ellis Island karaoke? It's in a bar. In a casino. After 9 p.m. In Las Vegas. It seems like a weird bit of prudery in a city festooned with giant billboards of women in g-strings and a seemingly endless parade of trucks advertising "Girls Direct to Your Room!"

We asked Ellis Island and got this official response. "Simple answer on this one: The karaoke lounge is connected to our restaurant, which is all ages." So they're protecting whatever virgin ears are there for dinner or, perhaps more accurately, the sensitivities of parents where their kids are concerned.

With tax time just around the corner, I was wondering: When you win a hand-pay jackpot at a casino, it is customary to tip the slot attendants. Are those tips tax-deductible?

The short answer is no. And that's not even if you can deduct losses against your gambling wins in the first place, which most people can no longer do, since the tax reform of 2018 raised the standard deduction such that it negates itemizing deductions (e.g., mortgage interest, medical expenses, and gambling losses).

That said, it's a different story if you can claim to be a professional gambler and you fill out a Schedule C for your gambling "business." That's the case for a small enough number of taxpayers that we can make it a rule of thumb for everyone else: You cannot deduct tips, even if you can deduct losses. 

I read QoD about 8 a.m. Eastern. It just occurred to me that's 5 a.m. Pacific. Just wondering what time "today's" becomes "yesterday's."

Our website is set on Pacific Time. So QoD goes live at midnight in Las Vegas, which means today's QoD becomes yesterday's at 3 a.m. Eastern the following day.