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The Daily Insight

Do gambling losses offset gambling winnings?

Author

Ava Robinson

Published Mar 25, 2026

You can include in your gambling losses the actual cost of wagers plus other expenses connected to your gambling activity, including travel to and from a casino. Keep in mind that the IRS does not permit you to simply subtract your losses from your winnings and report the difference on your tax return.

You may deduct gambling losses only if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) and kept a record of your winnings and losses. The amount of losses you deduct can’t be more than the amount of gambling income you reported on your return.

How do I get a win loss statement from the casino?

To obtain your Mlife Win/Loss Tax Statements, sign in to your M life Rewards account and navigate to “Win/Loss (Tax) Info” in the top right corner by clicking on your name. Select the time period you would like to view. Your Win/Loss statement will automatically update based on your selection.

What does a casino win / loss statement do?

They can help reinforce gambling logs and other data to show a more complete gambling picture when you have taxable gambling wins you’re offsetting with gambling losses on your tax return. For players, they can also be a helpful insight into how much they’re spending over time, so budgets can be made or adjusted.

Can a gambling loss be more than your winnings?

The amount of losses you deduct can’t be more than the amount of gambling income you reported on your return. Claim your gambling losses up to the amount of winnings, as “Other Itemized Deductions.”.

What did the IRS rely on for gambling losses?

Instead they relied upon Trip History Reports (also known as casino win/loss statements) from the various casinos. Prior to trial, the taxpayers and the IRS agreed upon the amount of gambling losses related to table games.

How much money can you lose in a casino?

On the other hand, if you use your Player’s Card so the casino can track your play – it will. Every winning spin on the slot machine will be recorded, and every losing spin will be recorded. So, if you started with $100 and played for several hours, you could have $2,025 of reportable wins and $2,000 of reportable losses.