Originally Posted by
guv1976
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
I think that the casinos issue 1099's, not W-2's.
And a non-professional can only deduct gambling losses against winnings if (s)he itemizes deductions; if you do not have enough deductions to justify itemizing, then you are out of luck, and get to pay taxes on your winnings, even if you had a net loss from gambling over the course of the year.
Of course, this may all be moot for the OP, since it appears that -- even if one itemizes -- one cannot deduct gambling losses against non-gambling "prize" income of the type involved here.
For slot jackpots of $1200 or more they issue W-2G. For slot tournaments they issue 1099. The W-2G is offsetable up to losses, the 1099 (unfortunately, for the non-pro) counts as ordinary income.