Is this really true? Social Security Card and Jackpots

I can "testify" that I have had $1200+ handpays in the following states and never showed my SS card. Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, and of course Nevada (Vegas, Reno, Laughlin) and on a Florida based cruiseship.

And yes, all income is taxable. Casinos only report the $1,200+ wins. What is not clear is that if you are at a machine and put in $100.... play a bit and win $300 and keep playing until the money is gone.... is that $300 reportable?

 

I'm not a lawyer, consult your tax attorney, yada yada yada.

With that out of the way, I don't see anything in the law that groups things into sessions. The good news is that there isn't anything in the statute that defines what a win actually means. Is it every time you get 3 symbols, every time you cash a ticket greater than what you put in or every time you walk out the door with more than you started with? The bad news is the same as the good news: there isn't anything in the statute that defines what a win actually means. Therefore a win is whatever the IRS and/or the courts say it is.

Here is the IRS statement on gambling:

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc419.html

Not incredibly helpful.

The experts I have heard have stressed the record keeping part. The long and the short of it is probably that while the likelihood of a casual and infrequent gambler being called on the carpet for any winnings under $1200 (under any definition of a win) is low, if the IRS does go after you and you have no records you are probably going to pay the tax and penalties the IRS says you should - fair or not.

One other thing I have heard is that the IRS loves to audit gambling loss deductions. No solid records, no deductions.

 

Just fly in from the UK as an English citizen, win loads, fill in a couple of forms and fly home! Bomb! Job done.......it's good to dream, see you in a month!

 

Wins in Las Vegas and North Carolina and only had to show DL.

 

You do not have to have your card, They will ask for your SS number though. If you don't have it or cant remember it you will not lose your jackpot. You will have to have ID.

 

Never had to show dl just on new wins at places never got a hp before. Never had to show social

 

They just asked me for it but did need my drivers license. I wasn't a fan of when they disappeared with it though for what felt like 30 minutes. Don't like stuff like that leaving my sight.

 

My social security card never leaves a fire resistant pocket in my safe. In more than 45 years of going to Las Vegas I've never been asked for it or needed it. Valid government ID and knowing your SSN for jackpots and you're good to go in Nevada, Louisiana or Oklahoma. I have no idea about non U.S. citizens. I'd guess that a casino has no responsibility at all to foreign governmental entities but they might provide different documentation to a foreign player as a courtesy.

 

The rare cases I've had the W2G, only DL. Nobody I know regularly carries their SS card.

 

Never had to in Vegas but at the tribals here I have had to show it every time, all the places here I have played have a sign stating two forms of ID and SSI is listed as a must have along with some form of picture ID and in some cases they will not take a military ID even.

 

Please clarify your statement. Do you need a SS Card, or just the number?

 

The actual card

 

One of the many reasons I will never play at a Indian casino

 

If you look at a W2G form, you will see where the casino is supposed to insert two forms of identification, one being the social security form. Once you hit for over $1199 and produce your social security card, most casinos will maintain that information under your player’s card number and you won’t be asked to produce it again. I have hit in Florida, Las Vegas, Mississippi and Missouri and have been asked to produce both ID’s in all states on my first win in a given casino. They will ask for your driver’s license each time. I’m glad they do. I don’t want to be sent a notice by the IRS because some John Doe declared winnings fraudulently using my name.

 

I have won hand pays in Vegas and Tribal casinos in Oklahoma many times.
I have never had to produce my actual SS card (I would never carry that with me) - I just verbally gave them my SS number the first time and did give them my actual DL. Now when I get a hand pay, I just let them know my SS nbr is on file and all they ask for is photo ID and I use my DL, when the form comes back for my signature, my SS nbr is on there and all I do is verify it for accuracy and sign it.

Maybe it varies state to state?

 

Nobody I know carries their SS card with them. Nor do I personally know anyone who was refused a large payout for not having one.

 

Sorry, but there is bad information in the above post. I am sure the poster showed his SS card. But it is not required in most places. I have lots of W2's from Vegas and Missisissippi. I have never, ever, ever carried my SS card with me. ( I can not speak for FL or MO - but I am sure it is covered in one of the earlier posts).

There may some selected states or casinos where it is required, but they are not in Vegas or Mississippi.

Again, if you have it, they will take it, but as the over 100 posts have indicated, you do not need your SS card.

 

I remember that Ohio only a few years ago removed your ssn from DL's because of identity theft concerns. It would seem incongruous for a casino to ask for your ss card what with all the concerns about identity theft and warnings not to carry your ss card- or even number- on your person.

 

Things maybe are different now, but I hit a handpay at the local Indian casino about 20 years ago. They refused to pay me w/o showing my SS card. I argued until I was blue in the face to no avail. They refused to pay me. What can you do? Sovereign Nation and jurisdiction complications. I drove the 40 miles home, dug up my SS card and went back. It was the only time I have ever carried the SS card.

When I hit two handpays at Suncoast in June, they just used my SS on file. I just had to show my DL. Unfortunately MSS is not so advanced. Each handpay there I verbally give my SS# and I've had 21 handys there.

 

I've never had a hand pay -- this thread makes me sad