New casino laws take effect January 1, 2026

Marcwantstowin said:

Damn Shell - It seems like another cost, everything we do is all a plus side for the taxman.

Not affecting us in the UK yet, but with the idiot we have in charge, it won't be long, cos they are taxing everything else to within an inch of its life,

Click to expand...

Shells said:

Will these changes affect you?

Click to expand...

Shells said:

As a result of passing the Big Beautiful Bill in the US, new laws have come into effect on January 1 for casino patrons in the US.

First, slot machine players winning $2,000 or less will not be required to fill out a W-2G form for their winnings. However, this will not take effect in all states just yet. Before this change, winners would have to fill out a W-2G form for $1,200 or more.

Another change in gambling laws is that deductions of gambling losses against winnings will be capped at 90%. For example, if someone wins $100,000 playing slots, table games, the lottery or any other form of gambling, they can only deduct 90% of their losses. That means a gambler who wins $100K playing slots, table games, the lottery, betting on sports, or any other form of gambling can only deduct up to 90% of their losses against their winnings. For example, if a person wins $100K but also loses $100K gambling during a year, they would still need to pay federal taxes on $10K.

More details found here on Casino.org>>> The Latest on Gambling Tax Law Changes That Became Effective Jan. 1, 2026

Will these changes affect you?

Click to expand...

lovemiscou said:

Hey Shell, where do you get your info on taxes? I have a question on taxes for canadiens, i was wondering if i could deduct my 2 or 3 trips a year to the playground in Montreal. Do you know where i could find some info on this? Jaimie Staples a canadien pro was talking about that on his stream a few years ago, but didn t go into details about it. If anyone else has some info on this, i would like to know about it.

Click to expand...

lovemiscou said:

Hey Shell, where do you get your info on taxes? I have a question on taxes for canadiens, i was wondering if i could deduct my 2 or 3 trips a year to the playground in Montreal. Do you know where i could find some info on this? Jaimie Staples a canadien pro was talking about that on his stream a few years ago, but didn t go into details about it. If anyone else has some info on this, i would like to know about it.

Click to expand...

lovemiscou said:

Hey Shell, where do you get your info on taxes? I have a question on taxes for canadiens, i was wondering if i could deduct my 2 or 3 trips a year to the playground in Montreal. Do you know where i could find some info on this? Jaimie Staples a canadien pro was talking about that on his stream a few years ago, but didn t go into details about it. If anyone else has some info on this, i would like to know about it.

Click to expand...

• Casual Players: Winnings are tax-free, and losses are not deductible.
• Professional Players: Winnings are reported as business income on a T1 tax return. They can deduct reasonable gambling-related expenses (losses, entry fees, software, travel) against that income.
• Investment Income: Any interest or investment income generated from depositing or investing poker winnings is always taxable.
• Winnings in the U.S.A.: The U.S. government typically withholds a 30% tax on gambling winnings from Canadians. If you are a professional in Canada, you can claim a foreign tax credit to avoid double taxation by using the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty.

ankurdholakiya said:

This whole discussion really shows how complicated gambling laws have become everywhere, not just in the U.S. or Canada. Between different thresholds, withholding rules, and how each country defines “professional” vs casual play, it’s easy for players to assume something is allowed or tax-free when it actually isn’t — or the opposite.

And in some places it goes way beyond taxes. For example, poker is completely banned in parts of India, so players don’t even get to worry about winnings or deductions — the game itself is off-limits.

Kind of reinforces the point that anyone who plays regularly or travels to gamble really needs to stay informed. Laws change fast, and governments always find different ways to control or regulate gambling.

Click to expand...