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What happens when you win a jackpot at a casino?

Often, winners have up to 90 days to decide whether they want a lump sum or annuity, though in some cases they are not given a disbursement option, and only a lump sum is offered. Casino winnings are taxed as ordinary income and can bump winners to a higher tax bracket.

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Written By

Annuity.org has been providing reliable, accurate financial information to consumers since 2013. We adhere to ethical journalism practices, including presenting honest, unbiased information that follows Associated Press style guidelines and reporting facts from reliable, attributed sources. Our objective is to deliver the most comprehensive explanation of annuities, structured settlements and financial literacy topics using plain, straightforward language. Our Partnerships, Vision and Goals We partner with CBC Settlement Funding, a market leader with over 15 years of experience in the settlement purchasing space. Our relationship with CBC allows us to facilitate the purchase of annuities and structured settlements from consumers who are looking to get a lump sum of cash immediately for their stream of monthly payments. When we produce legitimate inquiries, we get compensated, in turn, making Annuity.org stronger for our audience. Readers are in no way obligated to use our partners’ services to access Annuity.org resources for free. CBC and Annuity.org share a common goal of educating consumers and helping them make the best possible decision with their money. CBC is a Better Business Bureau-accredited company with an A+ rating and a member of the National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP), a national trade association that promotes fair, competitive and transparent standards across the secondary market. Additionally, Annuity.org operates independently of its partners and has complete editorial control over the information we publish. Our vision is to provide users with the highest quality information possible about their financial options and empower them to make informed decisions based on their unique needs. Our expert reviewers hold advanced degrees and certifications and have years of experience with personal finances, retirement planning and investments. Our expert reviewers review our articles and recommend changes to ensure we are upholding our high standards for accuracy and professionalism. These reviewers are industry leaders and professional writers who regularly contribute to reputable publications such as the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Annuity.org partners with outside experts to ensure we are providing accurate financial content. Janet Berry-Johnson is a certified public accountant and freelance writer with a background in accounting and income tax planning and preparation. Janet was named one of the Top 100 Must-Follow Tax Twitter Accounts for 2020 by Forbes. Managing editor Emily Miller is an award-winning journalist with more than 10 years of experience as a researcher, writer and editor. Throughout her professional career, Emily has covered education, government, health care, crime and breaking news for media organizations in Florida, Washington, D.C. and Texas. She joined the Annuity.org team in 2016. Alanna Ritchie is a content writer for Annuity.org where her primary focus is on personal wealth management.

Receiving Casino Winnings

Winning big at the casino can come with a number of tax implications and financial decisions, specifically when choosing the best payout method. Typically, winnings are placed in a structured settlement providing consistent payments for a determined period of time. But what if you want the winnings now? In this case, winners can choose to sell a portion or all of their casino settlement in exchange for a lump sum of cash. While receiving a one-time lump sum allows winners to address bigger financial emergencies, including paying for college tuition or medical expenses, receiving a lump sum payment can also negatively influence spending and saving habits. In addition, lump sum payments are taxed as ordinary income, though you only have to pay them one time. On the other hand, receiving casino winnings as a structured settlement provides a controlled income stream over a longer period. Payments are not taxed until they are disbursed, allowing for interest to accrue over time. However, this payout option limits the amount of cash a winner receives at one time, especially if additional funds are needed for financial emergencies. See what your future payments could be worth in cash Turn your future payments into cash you can use right now. Get started with a free estimate and see what your payments are worth today! Get Your Free Estimate

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How Do Casinos Pay Out Large Sums of Money?

You’ve just had a lucky night. While you are still in the casino, you will need to provide identification and sign IRS tax forms in order to accept your prize. And then you get your money, right? Not exactly. Casinos have various ways of paying winners. Generally, if the winnings are $25,000 or less, winners can choose between cash or check. If the winnings are larger, the options may change depending on the location of the casino and the game gambled upon. Some games allow for a lump sum disbursement, where the money is paid upfront. Other games disburse winnings through an annuity, where the money is paid in installments. Often, winners have up to 90 days to decide whether they want a lump sum or annuity, though in some cases they are not given a disbursement option, and only a lump sum is offered. Pro Tip Casino winnings are taxed as ordinary income and can bump winners to a higher tax bracket. All winnings — specifically from lottery payouts, poker tournaments, horse races and slot machines — are taxable at the federal level, and some may be taxable at the state level, too. Since each state has its own set of regulations for gambling taxes, be sure to pay close attention to the local requirements before filing your next tax return. In addition to state tax, the IRS also taxes gambling winnings. For certain games and for larger winnings, winners will receive IRS Form W2-G from the payer. No matter the amount, all winnings must be reported on the next tax return. However, the winner will only receive Form W2-G if the earnings meet certain thresholds: $600 or more in gambling winnings, except winnings from bingo, keno, slot machines, and poker tournaments, if the amount is at least 300 times your bet

$1,200 or more from a slot machine or bingo game

$1,500 or more in keno winnings

$5,000 or more in a poker tournament

If winnings meet or exceed the above thresholds, the casino will withhold up to 25 percent of your winnings in taxes before disbursing the final amount. Join Thousands of Other Personal Finance Enthusiasts Get personal finance tips, expert advice and trending money topics in our free weekly newsletter. Name Email * STAY IN THE KNOW

Lump Sum vs. Annuity Payments for Casino Winnings

The quickest way to determine how winnings are disbursed is to look at the faces of common slot machines. It will clearly disclose whether the machine is an annuity game or an immediate full-pay win. If you are given the choice of payout options, it may be wise to consult with a certified financial planner, tax attorney or certified public accountant to help determine the best decision. Pro Tip Each payout method comes with its own set of tax implications, including higher interest rates. Choosing how to receive your winnings determines how much you cash in.

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Choosing the lump sum option from the casino means settling for cash at a discounted rate of 50 to 60 percent of the total winnings. The lump sum discount rate is determined through either the current prime rate or a rate formulated from U.S. Treasury securities chosen by the licensee. While this option provides a bulk of cash all at once, winners have to pay taxes on the sum in its entirety the same year it is distributed. However, the taxes are paid only once. This option may work best for those looking to pay off debt or address other immediate financial needs. Claiming a casino annuity means committing your winnings to a long-term payment plan that can take 20 to 30 years to fully disburse. This guarantees an additional income stream over time. Generally, winnings are paid at the minimum amount annually. For example, regulations from the Nevada Gaming Control Board stipulate: Periodic payments are used for prizes of $100,000 or more. If the prize is between $100,000 and $200,000, payments will amount to at least $10,000 annually. If the prize is more than $200,000, the annual payments will not be less than 5 percent of the total amount. However, leaving casino winnings in an annuity sacrifices some of the value of your money.

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