topic Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

bschnebly — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:26:02 GMT

I won a cash drawing from a local casino. I have a nearly equal amount of losses from that same casino. The casino sent me a 1099-MISC for the drawing winnings, which I entered into TurboTax under the 1099-MISC category. How do I enter my gambling losses into TurboTax to offset those winnings?

I tried walking through the gambling winnings section of the income, but it didn't take me to anywhere that I could enter losses.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

Vanessa A — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:51:26 GMT

Your winnings should be reported to you on a W2-G instead of a 1099. To enter your gambling winnings and claim the losses that go with the winnings, you can select the following:

Income
Less common Income
Prizes, Awards, and Gambling Winnings
Say No, you did not receive a W2-G, hit next
Enter your winnings
On the next screen enter your losses.

Since you have the 1099-Misc You will need to make an additional entry to remove the income but still have the 1099-Misc included on your return.

To remove the income so it is not double reported, you will go to

Income
Miscellaneous Income
Other Income not already reported on Form w-2 or Form 1099
Select yes to Other Wages Received
Hit continue 3 times without entering anything
Say Yes to did you earn any other wages
Select Other then Continue
Enter gambling income reported on 1099-Misc instead of w2 g
then enter the amount of the 1099-Misc as a negative number.

In order to claim gambling losses, you must itemize your return. So even if you left it ride in your account and then lost it all betting it again, you would need to include the winnings as income and then itemize your return to claim any of the losses.

Other Itemized expenses include mortgage interest, state and local taxes up to $10,000, medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your AGI and casualty and losses in excess of 10% of you AGI with the first $100 not counting towards the loss. Your health insurance and all medical expenses are only deductible for the amount that is over 7.5% of your AGI. This means if your AGI is $50,000, then the amount that is over $3,750 is deductible.

Then your total itemized expenses would need to be greater than your standard deduction below in order to benefit from your insurance premium payments.

The 2023 Standard Deductions are as follows:

Married Filing Joint (MFJ) $27,700
Married Filing Separate (MFS) $13,850
Head of Household (HOH) $20,800
Single $13,850

Blind and MFJ or MFS add $1,500

Single or HOH if blind add $1,850

Did you receive a W2-G?

To enter your w2-G select the following:

Federal
Income
Prizes, Awards, and Gambling Winnings under Less Common Income

(edited 2/17/24 @ 12:50PM PST) @bschnebly

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

bschnebly — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:05:23 GMT

This doesn't come close to answering the question.

I stated that I entered the winnings under the 1099 section of earnings because the casino sent me a 1099-MISC with the winning amount in the OTHER box. There was no W2-G.

I know that I have to itemize deductions to claim gambling losses, and am already itemizing because of other deductions. What I want to know is where in the TurboTax deduction section do I enter the gambling losses? I walked through every category, and none of them asked me about gambling losses.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

Vanessa A — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:50:24 GMT

The reason you are not getting the option to enter your gambling winnings is because you have to enter your winnings in the gambling section. Your winnings should be reported to you on a W2-G instead of a 1099. To enter your gambling winnings and claim the losses that go with the winnings, you can select the following:

Income
Less common Income
Prizes, Awards, and Gambling Winnings
Say No, you did not receive a W2-G, hit next
Enter your winnings
On the next screen enter your losses.

Since you have the 1099-Misc You will need to make an additional entry to remove the income but still have the 1099-Misc included on your return.

To remove the income so it is not double reported, you will go to

Income
Miscellaneous Income
Other Income not already reported on Form w-2 or Form 1099
Select yes to Other Wages Received
Hit continue 3 times without entering anything
Say Yes to did you earn any other wages
Select Other then Continue
Enter gambling income reported on 1099-Misc instead of w2 g
then enter the amount of the 1099-Misc as a negative number.

I have also edited the original answer.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

bschnebly — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 22:28:50 GMT

Ok,

This is what I did. I followed the instructions for the gambling section. I entered the amount of the prize I won, and the amount of money I lost gambling, and things worked out OK.

I tried to follow the instructions for the Miscellaneous Income section and that's where I ran into issues. The screens I get don't seem to follow the order for what you indicated in your post.

So I entered the 1099-Misc data as I received it including the positive amount of the prize, then on the next screen it tells you to enter the reason for the 1099-Misc. I typed in Prize Winnings. The next page asked, "Does one of these uncommon situations apply?" I chose "This was prize winnings". A couple of screens later it let me put in an adjustment to the value of the prize I won. On this page I put the negative value of what I entered on the 1099-Misc page.

Is that the correct way to do it, or will that give me problems?

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

Vanessa A — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 22:38:21 GMT

That should work as well. As long as you are seeing a net zero amount on your 1040 form, this will work.

You can look at your schedule 1 line 1z to be sure that it has been removed from your income.

On the menu bar on the left that shows.

Select Tax Tools
On the drop-down select Tools
On the pop-up menu
Select View Tax Summary
On the left sidebar, select Preview my 1040

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

SColvin — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:11:11 GMT

This does not work. By entering the "other income" as a negative number you end up with negative in income that is rejected when you go to efile. The backing out of the 1099Misc must have to be entered as a deduction....but where? I spent 2 hours on the phone today with TurboTax and was then had my case referred to an Expert who was supposed to call me back. No call.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

DawnC — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:22:42 GMT

Did you receive a 1099-misc instead of a W-2G? @SColvin This thread is from last year, so can you clarify your situation? You only need to negate the 1099-misc in the other reportable income section if you reported the full amount in the gambling winnings section as well as the 1099-misc section.

Gambling losses are entered on the very next screen after you enter your gambling winnings. All gambling winnings get entered in the same place (Less Common Income) - whether or not - they are reported on a W-2G.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

SColvin — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:29:56 GMT

I received a 1099 Misc instead of the W2g. I entered the winnings in the gambling winnings area so that I could also enter my losses.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

SColvin — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:46:23 GMT

In addition to entering the winnings in the Gambling area I then entered the 1099Misc. I tried to back out the amount in "other income" by entering a negative amount, as per the instructions above. That is when my efile was rejected.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

JamesG1 — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 17:18:13 GMT

Did the IRS form 1099-MISC entries both post to line 8a Other Income on Schedule 1 Additional Income and Adjustments to Income? Or something else?

In TurboTax Online, IRS form 1099-MISC box 3 Other Income may be entered as follows:

Down the left side of the screen, click Federal.
Down the left side of the screen, click Wages & Income.
Click the down arrow to the right of Other Common Income.
Click the right of Form 1099-MISC.
At the screen Did you get a 1099-MISC, click Yes.
At the screen Let's enter the income from your 1099-MISC, enter the information. Click Continue.
At the screen Describe the reason, enter the reason. Click Continue.
At the screen Do one of these uncommon situations apply, select the situation.
If you select None of these apply, click Continue.
At the screen Did the xxx involve work, select No, it didn't involve work. Click Continue.
At the screen How often, select Got it in 2024. Click Continue.
At the screen Did xxx involve an intent to earn money?, click No.

The income should be reported on line 8 of the IRS form 1040 and line 8z of the Schedule 1 Form 1040.

In TurboTax Online, the reversal would be entered as follows:

Select Federal from the left side menu.
Click on Wages & Income.
Scroll down to Less Common Income. Click the down arrow.
Click to the right of Miscellaneous income….
Click to the right of Other reportable income.
At the screen Other Taxable Income enter a description and the income with a negative number.

The income should be reported on line 8 of the IRS form 1040 and line 8z of the Schedule 1 Form 1040.

@SColvin

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

SColvin — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 02:09:00 GMT

Putting a negative amount in Other Reportable Income results in an error during the review. It says:

"Wages, Salaries, & Tips Worksheet: TP other inc shouldn't be less than zero"

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

SColvin — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 02:14:24 GMT

The $ from the 1099Misc appears on line 8z of Schedule 1, the full amount. I do not see the negative amount on schedule 1, but it appears on the Wages, Salaries & Tips Worksheet.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

SColvin — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 02:27:24 GMT

The negative entry to offset the 1099Misc appears on the Wages, Salaries, & Tips Worksheet on line 7 and causes an error.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

JamesG1 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

How was the negative entry of the 1099-MISC entered? If the entry is removed, and a reversing entry is required, see below.

In TurboTax Online, the reversal may be entered as follows:

Select Federal from the left side menu.
Click on Wages & Income.
Click the down arrow to the right of Less Common Income.
Click to the right of Miscellaneous income….
Click to the right of Other reportable income.
At the screen Other Taxable Income enter a description and the income with a negative number

The income reversal is reported on line 8 of the IRS form 1040 and line 8z of the Schedule 1 Form 1040.

@SColvin

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

SColvin — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:50:53 GMT

I entered the negative amount as you described. Only the positive entry from the 1099 MISC appears in line 8 on the 1040 and line 8z of schedule 1. The negative amount, which I input per your instructions, appears only on the Wages, Salaries & Tips Worksheet, line 7. Have you actually tried this yourself? It doesn't work, no matter how many times you give me the same instructions.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

LindaS5247 — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:39:44 GMT

You would only enter your gambling losses if you are itemizing your deductions. ‌You would only itemize your deductions if all of your itemized expenses exceed what you are getting for your Standard Deduction.

When you enter your gambling winnings in TurboTax, the interview will also ask you questions regarding gambling losses, after you input your gambling winnings.

Because you received Form 1099-MISC instead of a W2-G you should enter enter your winnings in the gambling section. To enter your gambling winnings and claim the losses that go with the winnings, you can select the following:

To enter your gambling winnings in TurboTax Desktop, you will do as follows:

Select "Wages & Income"
Click on "I'll Choose What I Work On?"
Scroll down to "Less Common Income"
Click "Start" by "Prizes, Awards and Gambling Winnings"
On the screen "Whose W2G do you want to work on?
Select "WE didn't receive a W2-G.

To enter your gambling winnings in TurboTax Online you will do as follows:

Click on "Wages & Income"
Scroll down the page to "Less Common Income"
Click the (down-facing) caret next to "Less Common Income"
Click on "Start" next to "Gambling Winnings"
On the screen "Whose W2G do you want to work on?
Select "WE didn't receive a W2-G" and "Continue"

If it is advantageous for you to itemize your deductions, TurboTax will properly report your gambling losses. They will go on Schedule A on line 16, under "other".

Your gambling losses will flow to your state return. Your state may have different rules for gambling losses.

You will still have to enter your Form 1099-MISC.

To enter a Form 1099-MISC into TurboTax you can:

Click on the "Search" icon
Enter "1099-MISC" in the search box
Select "Jump to form 1099-misc"
It will take you to a screen that says, "Did you get a 1099-MISC?
Select "Yes"
Enter your Form 1099-MISC information
Answer all follow-up screens

Then remove the income so it is not double-reported, you will:

Go to "Wages & Income"
Scroll down to "Miscellaneous Income"
Select "Start" or "Update" next to "Other Income not already reported on a Form W-2"
On the screen "Other Wages Received"
Select "Yes" to "Did you receive any other wages?"
Skip the next three screens
Select "Yes "to "Did you earn any other wages?"
Select" Other" on the screen that says "Enter Source of Other Earned Income" then select "Continue"
For description enter "gambling income reported on 1099-Misc instead of w2-g"
Enter the amount of the 1099-Misc as a negative number.

See screen shot below. This shows the -$5000 as other earned income.

Your screens will look something like this:

Enter your gambling winnings under "Less Common Income" "Prizes, Awards and Gambling Winnings"

Select "I (or we) did not receive a W-2G."

Enter your gambling winnings:

Enter your gambling losses. Note: You must itemize your deductions to deduct your gambling losses.

Enter the income as -$5,000

Form 1040 shows the -$5000.

Click here for more information on Form 1099-MISC

Click here for information on entering Form 1099-MISC

Click here for additional information on gambling losses and what documentation is required.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

tex_max — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:05:31 GMT

As stated by many other users, this will not work as it will not pass the TurboTax screener.

Re: Entering Gambling Losses in TurboTax

Thanos113 — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:54:54 GMT

Just wanted to let anyone know if you enter your W2-G and then close out without entering your gambling losses in the next page that option will go away.

I needed my wife to pull up our losses so I was going to enter it a later time but when I went back there was no way to enter the losses (unless you do on Schedule A).

So I finally figured out I had to delete the W2-G and re-enter it to get the next page asking about gambling losses. I spent a lot of time trying to figure this out so hopefully this helps.