Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, reports gambling income and any federal or state tax withheld from those winnings. If you receive certain types of gambling payouts, the payer may issue a Form W-2G and send a copy to both you and the IRS.
For the 2026 tax year, you can generally expect to receive a Form W-2G if you receive any of the following:
- $600 or more in gambling winnings when the payout is at least 300 times the amount of the wager (excluding bingo, keno, slot machines, and poker tournaments)
- $1,200 or more in winnings from bingo or slot machines
- More than $5,000 in net winnings from a poker tournament (after subtracting the buy-in or wager)
- $1,500 or more in keno winnings after reducing the winnings by the amount wagered
- Any gambling winnings that are subject to federal income tax withholding
A Form W-2G reports your gambling winnings, applicable tax withholding, and other information needed to prepare your tax return accurately.
Where Do I Enter Form W-2G in the Program?
To enter gambling winnings reported on Form W-2G:
- Go to Federal
- Select Income
- Choose My Forms (or Continue)
- Select Less Common Income
- Select Gambling Winnings (Form W-2G)
Enter the information exactly as it appears on your Form W-2G.
I Didn't Receive a Form W-2G. Where Do I Report Gambling Income?
Even if you do not receive a Form W-2G, gambling winnings are generally taxable and should be reported on your tax return.
To enter gambling income that was not reported on Form W-2G:
- Go to Federal
- Select Income
- Choose My Forms (or Continue)
- Select Less Common Income
- Select Other Compensation
- Choose Other Gambling Income Not Reported on W-2G
Examples may include casual gambling winnings, smaller payouts that did not require a Form W-2G, or winnings reported through other records.
How Do I Enter Gambling Losses?
You can enter gambling losses in one of two ways within the program.
Option 1: Enter Losses With Your W-2G
If you're entering a Form W-2G, you can enter your gambling losses on the same screen used to report your gambling winnings. The program will transfer the deductible amount to Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) when applicable.
Option 2: Enter Losses Directly in Itemized Deductions
To enter gambling losses directly:
- Go to Federal
- Select Deductions
- Choose My Forms
- Select Itemized Deductions
- Select Other Itemized Deductions
Use the Learn More link on the gambling losses entry screen for additional guidance.
Important Rules for Claiming Gambling Losses
Before entering gambling losses, keep these important limitations in mind:
- You can only deduct gambling losses if you qualify to itemize deductions.
- Gambling losses cannot exceed your reported gambling winnings.
- Keep records that support both your winnings and losses, such as receipts, tickets, statements, or wagering records.
- Do not enter gambling losses in both the W-2G section and the Itemized Deductions section. Doing so could cause your losses to be reported twice.
Example
If you have $2,000 of gambling winnings and $2,500 of documented gambling losses, the maximum gambling loss deduction you can claim is $2,000. The additional $500 cannot be deducted.
To view a sample Form W-2G, click here.