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W-2G Filing Requirements: A Complete Guide for U.S. Gaming Payers

What is Form W-2G?

Form W-2G reports certain gambling winnings plus any federal income tax withheld on these winnings to the IRS. The IRS then uses this information and cross-checks W-2G against what winners report on their personal returns. If you miss a form or get the details wrong, you’re looking at penalties starting at $60 per form which can go up to $680 per form for intentional disregard.

Beyond the hefty fines, inaccurate W-2G reporting can also threaten your gaming license and invite compliance issues.

Who Must File W-2G and When?

If you are in the gambling business, then you must file Form W-2G. For example, casinos, state lotteries, racetracks, tribal operations, card rooms, online platforms, etc. must issue Form W-2G to report gambling winnings. But what exactly are the W-2G filing requirements? The answer depends on the game and the amount. Look at the following table for the Form W-2G threshold rules:

Game Type Minimum Reporting Threshold
Bingo and Slot Machines $1,200+ with no wager (winnings are not subtracted)
Keno $1,500+ with wager (winnings are reduced or subtracted)
Poker Tournaments $5,000+ in net winnings (entry or buy-in reduces the reportable amount)
All Other Games (horse racing, raffles, lottery, sports pools, etc.) $600+ and the winning amount is at least 300 times the wager

W-2G Aggregation Rules

Some gaming operations use aggregation to simplify reporting. For bingo, keno, and slot machines, a payer may use the aggregate reporting method to report more than one payment to a payee on a gaming day on a single W-2G.

Verification

Before you hand over any winnings, gather the winner’s TIN and the required identification as per the W-2G instructions.

Understanding Federal & Backup Withholding Rules

There are two types of withholding, and each has its own rules.

Regular withholding (24%): This kicks in when winnings minus the wager exceeds $5,000 from sweepstakes, wagering pools, lotteries, certain parimutuel pools, or any wager that pays at least 300× the amount bet.

Note: Bingo, keno, slot machines, or poker tournaments don’t require regular withholding (backup withholding may apply if TIN rules are not met).

Backup withholding W-2G (24%): Apply this type of withholding only if:

  • The winner doesn’t furnish a correct TIN
  • Regular gambling withholding hasn’t been withheld
  • The winnings meet any of the following backup-withholding thresholds:
    • At least $600 and 300× the wager
    • At least $1,200 for bingo/slot machines
    • At least $1,500 in keno
    • More than $5,000 in net winnings from a poker tournament

All gambling and backup withholding must be reported on Form 945. The funds should be deposited through EFTPS using the monthly or semiweekly schedule. Keep a signed voluntary withholding agreement if a winner requests additional withholding.

Completing Form W-2G

This is how you should go about filling out form W-2G:

Payer section: Legal name, address, and EIN.

Winner section: Name, address, and SSN.

Box-by-box guide:

  • Box 1 shows the reportable winnings amount
  • Box 2 captures date won
  • Box 3 identifies the type of wager
  • Box 4 reports any federal income tax you withheld
  • Box 5 reports the type of wager transaction
  • Box 6 reports the race or other identifying information
  • Box 7 identifies the wager/pool
  • Boxes 8–12 include wager identifiers, machine or window numbers
  • Boxes 13–18 handle state and local reporting, including jurisdiction codes

Important Form W-2G Deadlines

Due Date Payer Action
January 31, 2026 Furnish Copy B to the winner
March 31, 2026 Form W-2G electronic filing deadline
Paper filing exception Paper Forms W-2G may be mailed (Form 1096 summary on top) only if there are less than ten (10) returns
Filing Extension File Form 8809 on or before the due date for a 30-day extension to file.

State Reporting Gets Trickier

The CF/SF Program forwards certain 1099 forms to participating states. But W-2G is not part of CF/SF. This means that states may require separate W-2G reporting. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, and various tribal jurisdictions each have their own upload requirements, which may vary between CSV, XML, or Excel.

Keeping Records That Survive an Audit

  • Keep W-2G records for at least three to four years.
  • Store wager tickets, pull logs, Form W-9s, and signed affidavits.
  • Maintain a searchable digital archive keyed to TIN and date.
  • Log jackpot-paid amounts in AML software to flag suspicious patterns.
  • Set up quarterly reviews and reconcile against gross gaming revenue.

5 Common Form W-2G Errors and How to Fix Them

Mistake Quick Fix
Getting 300× rule wrong for raffles Have to apply both $600 and 300× tests
Adding up unrelated slot wins Only use aggregate method for bingo, keno, and slot machine winnings for the same gaming day
Getting winner copies late to people Setup automatic e-delivery and make sure to get those read receipts as proof that you sent on time.
Messing up state code boxes Get e-file software with built-in jurisdiction mapping that validates codes before you submit.

Real-Life Examples

Scenario Payer Action
Someone hits $1,350 on slots File W-2G with $1,350 in Box 1 since the winning amount crosses the $1,200 slot threshold.
$4,800 raffle win. Ticket cost is $10 File W-2G since it passes both the $600 and 300× test but don’t withhold the regular 24% (unless backup withholding is needed)
Poker tournament win of $4,900 with $200 entry Do not file W-2G since the net winnings are below the $5,000 threshold.
$6,500 keno win on $1,800 wager (net is $4,700) File W-2G. Keno winnings are reportable if winnings minus the wager are $1,500 or more.
Winner won’t give SSN on $900 bingo winning Don’t file W-2G. The 24% backup withholding is not applicable here since the winnings are not reportable.

FAQs

1. When do you withhold federal tax on W-2G winnings?

Withhold 24% when winnings minus the bet exceed $5,000 for games subject to the 300× rule. Also apply backup withholding when a valid TIN isn’t provided.

2. Can you add up multiple slot wins to get $1,200?

No. Don’t combine separate slot wins to reach $1,200. You may aggregate multiple bingo, keno, or slot wins for a single day, but each win must independently meet the $1,200 threshold.

3. What about foreign winners?

Use Form 1042-S instead of W-2G and withhold 30% unless a tax treaty lowers it.

4. What if you realize a mistake after filing?

File a corrected W-2G as soon as possible. Fixing within 30 days of the original deadline can reduce penalties.

5. Does state withholding mean you must file W-2G even if below thresholds?

No. State withholding doesn’t create a federal filing requirement. Some states may require separate reporting.

6. Can you e-file if you’re issuing fewer than 10 total returns?

Yes. E-filing is optional below the threshold, and many payers prefer it for instant IRS confirmation.

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