Is this really true? Social Security Card and Jackpots

As someone recently lucky enough to have hit a jackpot ($3000 at the Muckleshoot Casino in Washington), they asked what my SSN was -- I looked and didn't have anything on me that said what it was. They borrowed my drivers license instead and asked if I wanted to pay the taxes now. I said, "no!" (I wanted all that wonderful money piling up in my hands.)

It took them about 30 minutes to finally bring me my pile of money. I assume they ran some sort of background check on me in the meantime. They had a nice IRS form generated for my records at tax time. Instead of all hundreds, they gave me some twenties too... probably in the hopes I'd gamble those.

In the time it took them to get the money I almost hit another jackpot, got red-blue-white 7's good for $250. red-white-blue would have been $12,000+. Oh well. Luckily I had a plane to catch, so couldn't give them their money back.

Oh yeah, the $3000 was a 10xpay, triplebar, 10xpay. If I had bet $2, it would have been $6000

 

Im sure it has already been covered but here is a recent example. I won $1830 on keno (machine) at excalibur on 10-7-06. They asked for my I.D. and my social security #. Came back within 12 minutes (3 people came) and gave me the money. I was gonna tip the original girl who came but she did not come back with them :/

Some degenerate looking guy came up to me as I was walking back to my room and asked how much I won. I told him a little. He then cussed me out and said "I was just asking how much you won mother f***er. Anyways I almost won and than got to kick ass afterwords too. \o/

 

Probably in hopes of a TIP

 

I never understood why you tip the person once you hit big on slot machines. I'm not a slots player but it seems weird that you tip someone who in no way shape or form has entertained you or provided a service beyond that required by law. Noone tips the cashier when they cash out their chips do they? I play black jack and I do tip the dealers because they are earning the money most the time by keeping the table entertaining and having fun. I'd probably do it anyways since it is the norm and the accepted thing to do. I was just wondering why this is though?

 

I usually tip the cashier if I have some singles or am in an especially good mood.

 

I hit a royal on a TITO machine on Monday. When I went to the cage to cash it in, the changling got real surly when she figured out I wasn't going to reward her for having done absolutely nothing as it pertains to providing a service.

 

I have never been asked for my ss card until this past trip in April. Won $1350 at slots a fun...took them an hour to pay me and photo copied my ss and license. I have always been able to show just my license for previous big wins.

 

I was with someone who hit $4,000 on a video poker machine at TI and she only needed a govt issued ID and she got her money pretty quick. She ended up tipping the bartender $100, which he did keep it flowing to us. If I was bartending, I would not expect that big of a tip no matter how much my customer won.

 

The last time I was at Harrah's Rincon, I was talking with the bartender. He said that the common tip is a $20 on the quarter royal, and $100 on the $1 royal. Sometimes more, or sometimes less, but in a state where it is illegal to comp alcohol, the guy who tipped $100 sure got a lot of "discounted(free)" drinks... And were talking top shelf stuff too...

And, people who I have been with who have hit it big on the slots usually didn't get asked for a SS card. The one time they did, he said for identity theft purposes, he doesn't carry it around and just told them what it was...

 

I guess I'm a pretty cheap tipper then. Most of my bartenders got $20-40 for my hits... never a hundy.

As someone who has won 17 W2-G's in 2008 at no fewer than 10 different establishments, you absolutely do NOT need to have your Social Security card with you to be paid. You DO need a form of government issued ID. I used my drivers license at all of them and either told the attendant my SS# quietly or wrote it down (at Rio I had to fill out that information on the tax form myself!). Only one of them asked twice for my SS card, and didn't press it when I told him I never carry it - it's a bad idea to carry it on your person in case of theft - wallet and identity.

 

I hit two jackpots earlier this year and Bally's and Suncoast. They did not require a SSN - only my drivers license.

They all had their hand out for tips. Even the guy at Seattle coffee was giving me free extra shots in my iced drink, expecting a tip.

I wish there was a way to tito your big wins. It would take away the uncomfortable moments when you're expected to tip, which I don't.

 

I have only had to provide my DL & sign the W2 stating what my social security number was in my 4 or so declarable hand-pays. As the guy in the local casino stated when he paid me...... 'We ask for your card because most people who end up winning a big jackpot are lucky if they can even remember their NAME, let alone their social security number!!! As long as you remember your number and complete the W-2 that is all we need!'

 

Just wondering....seeing as I am from Canada what ID do I need to have on me incase I were to win? I will have my passport with me (although at the hotel). What else should I have with me?

 

Drivers license or non-drivers ID should work fine. Passport would definitely work, but I understand not wanting to carry that around.

 

Your passport will be fine, but I wouldn't want to carry it around. Any state (used in the generic sense) issued ID would be fine as long as it is clear that it has been issued by your local government.

 

Canadians . . .

Just about any ID will work because they immediately withhold 30%. They will give you a 1040-NR and at the end of the year you can deduct your gambling losses and get a refund.

 

MGM asked for my Players Card and a verbal disclosure of my SSN. They had my name and address information provided during my Players Card sign-up.

I'm not sure if they verify the SSN before providing the winnings with no withholdings.

Can you apply gambling losses in other forms of gambling against your winnings.

For example, can you claim lottery, horse racing, blackjack, poker, etc. losses against a slot machine win?

I am pretty sure you can but I would like clarification if possible. Too bad I didn't win in November as I had enough losses to cover my RSF.

 

From the IRS website.

 

What if you don't have a Social Security Number?

 

If you are an U.S. citizen, they will take the taxes out of your winnings there on the spot.

Not sure what they do with people who live outside of the country. I have an idea, but I don't want to put out incorrect information in case I'm not right.