Cash games question

[BlankPaperz]

I was wondering what the threshold would be if one got funds from those advertised cash games you play so long and then get some money. Would it count as gambling and winnings or self employment tax? Or something else? 

[Hal_Al]

Q. Would it count as gambling and winnings or self employment tax? Or something else? 

A. Gambling winnings. 

 While professional gamblers may file a Schedule C as self-employed individuals, what you described does not make you a professional gambler (“pursued full time, in good faith, and with regularity, to the production of income for a livelihood, and is not a mere hobby” ) Reference: https://silvertaxgroup.com/professional-gambler-tax/#:~:text=Gambling%20must%20be%20%E2%80%9Cpursued....

[BlankPaperz]

I struggle with more complex sentence structure. But would it be the normal threshold for filing taxes? Like if I got 500 or more bucks from one of these cash games would it be the regular threshold since it's not a job for me ans don't need to file for self employment? 

[Hal_Al]

Q. Would it be the normal threshold for filing taxes? Like if I got 500 or more bucks from one of these cash games would it be the regular threshold since it's not a job for me and don't need to file for self employment? 

A. Yes, the "normal threshold" applies.  If your total income, including gambling winnings,  is less than $13,850 (2023), you do not need to file a tax return.  There are two exceptions: 1. you have more than $400 of self employment income and 2. You can be claimed as a dependent, by somebody else, and you have more than $1250 of unearned income.  Cash games winnings is "unearned" income.