Owe taxes on gambling winnings?
Type your gambling winnings, your losses, and your other income. The answer is the federal tax the winnings add to your 2026 return, what was withheld, and what is left to pay.
- Federal tax on the winnings
- $1,553.00
On $10,000.00 of gambling winnings you owe $1,553.00 of federal tax; $0.00 is withheld and $1,553.00 is left to pay.
- Withheld when paid
- $0.00
- Left to pay when you file
- $1,553.00
- Losses you can deduct
- $0.00
- Deduction taken
- Standard deduction (losses give no benefit)
- Tax as a share of winnings
- 15.53%
- Net after losses and tax
- $8,447.00
- Note
- Uses 2026 federal tax rates.
Federal tax on the winnings: $1,553.00. On $10,000.00 of gambling winnings you owe $1,553.00 of federal tax; $0.00 is withheld and $1,553.00 is left to pay.
Federal tax on the winnings by gambling winnings
The results are maths only. They are not betting advice or a promise of a return. Bet only what you can afford to lose. For help with gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Terms of use
How to calculate
Estimates the 2026 federal tax on gambling winnings (casino, sports betting, lottery), the 90% limit on deducting losses, what is withheld, and what you still owe when you file.
Example with the default inputs (Gambling winnings $10,000.00, Where you won Casino, slots, poker, bingo, keno, Gambling losses $0.00, Other itemized deductions $0.00, Filing status Single, Other income $60,000.00): On $10,000.00 of gambling winnings you owe $1,553.00 of federal tax; $0.00 is withheld and $1,553.00 is left to pay.
Method: Deductible losses = the lesser of 90% × losses and winnings. Tax on the winnings = Form 1040 tax with (other income + winnings, itemized deductions + deductible losses) − tax with (other income, itemized deductions), each taking the larger of the standard and the itemized deduction. Withheld = 24% × winnings when they are over $5,000 from a lottery, sweepstakes, pool, or a bet paying 300 times the wager. Left to pay = tax − withheld.
- An estimate for tax year 2026 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and IRC 165(d) as amended by P.L. 119-21), not tax advice.
- Winnings are counted net of the wager on each winning bet. Other income is ordinary income with no credits.
- Professional gamblers (Schedule C), nonresident aliens (30% withholding), backup withholding (24% when no taxpayer ID is given), and state tax are not included.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Gambling winnings $10,000.00, Where you won Casino, slots, poker, bingo, keno, Filing status Single, Other income $60,000.00 gives Federal tax on the winnings $1,553.00, Withheld when paid $0.00, Left to pay when you file $1,553.00, Net after losses and tax $8,447.00.
- Gambling winnings $50,000.00, Where you won Lottery, sweepstakes, or a 300-to-1 bet, Filing status Single, Other income $60,000.00 gives Federal tax on the winnings $10,353.00, Withheld when paid $12,000.00, Left to pay when you file -$1,647.00.
- Gambling winnings $10,000.00, Gambling losses $10,000.00, Other itemized deductions $20,000.00, Where you won Casino, slots, poker, bingo, keno, Filing status Single, Other income $60,000.00 gives Losses you can deduct $9,000.00, Federal tax on the winnings $120.00, Net after losses and tax -$120.00.Source: IRC 165(d)(1) (P.L. 119-21): 90% of $10,000 of losses
- Gambling winnings $3,000.00, Gambling losses $5,000.00, Where you won Casino, slots, poker, bingo, keno, Filing status Married filing jointly, Other income $80,000.00 gives Losses you can deduct $3,000.00, Federal tax on the winnings $360.00.
How it works
- Deductible losses = the lesser of 90% × losses and the winnings.
- Return without gambling: other income, with the larger of the standard deduction ($16,100 single or separately, $32,200 jointly or surviving spouse, $24,150 head of household) and your other itemized deductions.
- Return with gambling: other income + winnings, with the larger of the standard deduction and (other itemized deductions + deductible losses). Above the 37% bracket, itemized deductions fall by 2/37 of the lesser of them and taxable income (figured before them) over the bracket's start: $640,600 single and head of household, $384,350 married filing separately, $768,700 jointly (IRC 68 from 2026).
- Each return's tax: taxable income = income − deduction (not below 0); the Tax Table below $100,000 (the rate schedule at the middle of the $50 row, rounded to whole dollars), the rate schedule above it. No credits.
- Tax on the winnings = tax with gambling − tax without.
- Withheld = 24% × winnings when the game is a lottery, sweepstakes, pool, or a bet paying 300 times the wager or more and the winnings are over $5,000; otherwise 0.
- Left to pay = tax on the winnings − withheld. Net = winnings − losses − tax on the winnings.
When the data is out of date
The W-2G threshold and the tax brackets change each year. After 2026 the page keeps using the 2026 rules and says so above the result.
Worked examples by hand
Single, $60,000 of other income, $10,000 from a slot machine. Without: $43,900 taxable, Tax Table row middle $43,925: 1,240 + 12% × 31,525 = $5,023. With: $53,900, row middle $53,925: 1,240 + 4,560 + 22% × 3,525 = 6,575.50, so $6,576. Tax $1,553, nothing withheld.
The same income, a $50,000 lottery prize. With: $93,900 taxable, row middle $93,925: 1,240 + 4,560 + 22% × 43,525 = 15,375.50, so $15,376. Tax $10,353. Withheld 24% × 50,000 = $12,000, so $1,647 comes back.
Single, $60,000 of income, $20,000 of other itemized deductions, $10,000 won and $10,000 lost. Deductible losses 90% × 10,000 = $9,000. Without: 60,000 − 20,000 = $40,000 taxable ($4,555). With: 70,000 − 29,000 = $41,000 ($4,675). Tax $120 on a year that broke even.
Other questions people ask
Are gambling winnings taxable?
Yes. All gambling winnings are taxable income: casino games, poker, sports bets, lotteries, raffles, and prizes, whether or not you get a Form W-2G. They are taxed at your ordinary rates of 10% to 37%.
What changed for gambling losses in 2026?
From 2026, only 90% of your wagering losses can be deducted, and still only up to your winnings (IRC 165(d) as amended by P.L. 119-21). So if you win $10,000 and lose $10,000, you deduct $9,000 and pay tax on $1,000.
Can I deduct gambling losses if I take the standard deduction?
No. Losses are an itemized deduction on Schedule A. If your itemized deductions, losses included, are less than the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 jointly in 2026), the losses give no tax benefit.
How much tax is withheld from gambling winnings?
24% of the winnings (less the wager) when they are over $5,000 from a lottery, sweepstakes, wagering pool, or a bet that pays at least 300 times the wager. Slot machines, bingo, keno, and poker tournaments have no regular withholding, only 24% backup withholding if you do not give your taxpayer ID.
When do I get a Form W-2G?
For bingo, slot machines, keno, and poker tournaments, when winnings (less the wager or buy-in for keno and poker) reach the reporting threshold: $2,000 for payments in 2026, indexed for inflation after that. Other wagers have their own rules. You owe tax on winnings whether or not you get one.
Why do I owe more than was withheld?
The 24% withholding is a flat prepayment. If your winnings push you into the 32%, 35%, or 37% bracket, or nothing was withheld (casino games), you owe the difference when you file. If your rate is lower, you get some back.