Ever get asked for your ss # to cash in a live tourney? What did you do?

Give it to them, and get your money along with a W2G.

Or don't, and get your money less 28% withholding.

Sure, in my experience you get the W2G form any time you win over $5k. And you give them the SSN. Why wouldn't you? You are legally responsible for the taxes on all gambling winnings whether or not you get a form anyway.

- Only when my net win was more than $5k.
- Gave them the number.

I believe that in California, those who are not California residents have to give it on wins of over $1500 (and they withhold state tax).

some people believe social security numbers are magic and if you give it out your soul is stolen.


I know the reality is my soul was stolen long ago.

It's not stealing when you sign a contract for the deal.

Maybe this was true once, but I can confirm that it is not the case today.

Having your SSN out there isn't a binary thing where either you're protecting it like Gollum with the One Ring or you've got it tattooed on your forehead and nothing in between.

The more people who have it the more likely someone will **** up and get an unencrypted laptop stolen or have their website hacked or whatever.

You should absolutely be vigilant, even paranoid, about giving out your SSN.

Unfortunately for the OP, "gonna pay you" is the most common legitimate reason for someone to have it. I've haven't played a tournament in years but you have to show ID to enter, correct? So there's no hiding who you are.

SSNs requests at casinos can vary depending on the 'win' ...

1) I have also heard of the 'net' win rule. $5K over the buy-in is very common ..

2) ANY promotional prize is 'normal' .. even a $100 High Hand 'promo' results in a W9 (tax ID request) and a W2G issued.

3) Pretty much any 'cash-out' of $10K or more (and sometimes less) will cause the cage attendant to ask for your SSN or Player's Card so they can track the transaction. If you are a professional gambler these are actually a good thing since you can then get a printout from the casino at the end of the year for your tax preparation ... they know your losses too!! I was asked one night for a cash-out of only $5K and I refused since it wasn't my normal casino and they didn't have a clue what I was in for that night ... I got my money. GL

This is 100% true. You should only give this number out when it's absolutely necessary. When you start a new job (or receive some other sort of taxable income, like a gambling win), when you open a bank account, when you need to run your credit. Giving it out unnecessarily is just increasing its exposure and likelihood of being stolen.

With just your social security number and name, a resourceful thief can have a state-issued ID and credit cards in your name within 48 hours, usually much less.

I've played a lot of tournaments at different casinos and I've only been to one that didn't require you to have a player's card (Binion's LV). You had to show ID to register, though. Every other place just requires you to have a player's card, which you generally need ID to obtain. Except at WSOP events and maybe at the Venetian or SHR, I've never been carded at the table. But at most places, all you need is someone's player's card to register and play. They don't care if you're really the person it says on the slip.

Seen this in action!! Guy self-banned himself from casino but was playing satellites for another guy using his PC. Interesting way to get around the system and they both profited along the way. GL

well some of us have a problem with numbers and sometimes I screw up when I give my number to casinos and the like. OOPS i MADE AN ERROR. Sue me

This is probably meant figuratively but it's closer the literal meaning than you probably realize.

You realize there's a whole industry around using "wrong" Social Security Numbers and an entire government-funded counterindustry dedicated to catching and prosecuting people who do?

What do you think happens when you "accidentally" give someone else's real, valid SSN, then the IRS thinks he won a poker tournament and didn't file taxes on your winnings?

The IRS makes some odd specific distinctions between different types of gambling winnings that determine the minimum amount that must be reported. So it is $5000 for poker tournaments, but less for slots, bingo, keno, etc.:

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw2g/ar02.html

Report gambling winnings on Form W-2G if:

The winnings (not reduced by the wager) are $1,200 or more from a bingo game or slot machine,

The winnings (reduced by the wager) are $1,500 or more from a keno game,

The winnings (reduced by the wager or buy-in) are more than $5,000 from a poker tournament,

The winnings (except winnings from bingo, slot machines, keno, and poker tournaments) reduced, at the option of the payer, by the wager are:

$600 or more, and

At least 300 times the amount of the wager, or

You do understand that that requirement pertains to when casinos have to report winnings/payouts, right? And that individuals are required to report any and all money won in a given session?

This.

You give the wrong number and you're gonna have to sign another form saying you attest that is your number. No way around it.

You've got to be first person EVER to try and avoid paying taxes on your winnings this way. Very inventive, well done. Let us know how well you fare with it.

I've never had to give my SSN when cashing in a tournament.

Of course. This thread was (mostly) about why casinos ask for some winners' SSNs and the amounts that they (the casinos) have to report. That's why I posted the guidelines from the IRS regarding what the casinos have to report. Not sure why you would think anything else.

You'd be surprised at how many people believe that there is a threshold and that if they stay below that amount, then they are not required to report their gambling winnings.

Of course, whenever a net win of >$5,000 for a W2G, also need to give it/get it from people if you chop for a significant sum so you can fire out 1099s (don't want to pay tax on a documented amount if that amount is way more than you actually got).

In this tournament I won less than $1000. I understand the reporting requirements for wins greater than $5k but the casino said they were required to collect ss# because they were audited occasionally by the irs.

Foxwoods.

Ameristar Vicksburg asks for a SSN and DL ANYTIME you cash in ANY tournament or even win a $25 high hand promo. They take out state taxes on everyone that cashes in a tournament. I've never got a good answer as to why they do this.

Throughout the rest of the state, tournaments are taxed at $5000+ and promotions at $600+. But at Vicksburg they track every little promo paid and send tax forms at year end. I got one on $550 one year, where they tracked and added up the promotional wins over a year.