Hi Michael,
April 15th has nothing to do with me. I don't prepare income tax returns. I just represent taxpayers.

Any gaming win is reportable by the individual. Many years ago I worked out on behalf of the IRS a closing agreement between Binion's Horseshoe and the government.

A closing agreement is nothing more than a contract between the government and the taxpayer as to "HOW" a specific transaction or group of transactions will be handled by that taxpayer in the future. It is not binding upon any other taxpayer.

As part of the closing agreement, satellites held on the premises of Binion's Horseshoe would not require the issuing of a W2-G for the win IF the player did not finish in the money in the main event. If the player did finish in the money the amount of the satellite win would be included in the W2-G that was finally issued.

The concept was that the government was only interested in paper reporting for the true winner.
Jim