Being tracked and how to beat it?

[Freightman]

Does my answer qualify as atty-client privilege? :-)

Get Frank to bill you a buck, send him a cheque (Canadian spelling), wait till it's cashed, and I think it would hold up.

[Joe Mama]

The freebies don't show up in my W/L statement. I was way ahead on VP in several casinos due to free play but the W/L didn't show any of the free play wins.

VP free play does show up on the W/L statements I have received. An example -- $100 FP, lose $10 W/L increased by +$90. I first noticed this when one store kept a running tally of W/L on their internet site. I've kept daily records including the free play and the end of year W/L statements match up well -- free play has been in the high 5 figures or low 6 figures so it is quite noticeable at the end of the year. I've held on to free play at the end of the year to carry win $$ into the next year. Value of hotels, meals, etc. does not seem to be included in W/L statements. So, I report free play, but not meals and hotel.

[21forme]

Most casinos follow IRS rules. Free play isn't reportable, but qualifying winnings from freeplay is. For example, say you get $5K freeplay and you play VP with it. You hit a $1200 hand. That's a W2G. Say your net result from that freeplay is you walk away with $3K, without a jackpot. That 3K is supposed to be reported by you as gambling income, though the casino will not file any forms on it.

If you win a drawing, slot tournament, etc., that MAY be reportable. I once won a trip to Vegas in a casino drawing. Got a 1099-MISC for airfare + the full retail value of the hotel room.

[weballinoutacontro]

I once won a trip to Vegas in a casino drawing. Got a 1099-MISC for airfare + the full retail value of the hotel room.

This kind of imputed income always annoys the crap out of me. The "value" is always so high that after paying my 30-40% federal+state taxes on it, I literally could have gotten a cheaper room at full freight somewhere else.

[Frank Galvin]

Get Frank to bill you a buck, send him a cheque (Canadian spelling), wait till it's cashed, and I think it would hold up.

Not if he answers in a public forum. Even if he paid me a retainer. Mind you, I gladly accept payments from non-clients. Ka-Ching. Sorta like extra +EV.