MGM tax forms arrive by January 31 each year, and which ones you get depends on how you interacted with the company. Casino guests receive Form W-2G for reportable wins, nonresident winners get Form 1042-S, independent contractors and performers get a 1099, and shareholders get 1099-DIV and 1099-B forms from their brokerage rather than from MGM itself.
Where to Find Your Forms
Paper copies of W-2G forms are mailed to the address MGM has on file. You can also pull a digital summary of every W-2G and 1042-S issued to you through the MGM Rewards reporting portal at mgmrewards.com/reportingform.1MGM Resorts. Tax Information and Win/Loss-Related Resources
A separate win/loss statement is available by signing in at mgmresorts.com/account/win-loss/. It tracks your carded play across the year and is useful for documenting losses, but MGM labels it as not an official tax document.1MGM Resorts. Tax Information and Win/Loss-Related Resources You still need the actual W-2G forms and your own records to file.
If you bet with BetMGM online, your tax documents live in the BetMGM app or website, not the MGM Rewards portal. The same W-2G thresholds apply. Check the tax documents section of your BetMGM account after January 31.
Shareholders who own MGM Resorts International stock get nothing directly from MGM. Dividend and sale forms come from your brokerage, usually by mid-February.
Form W-2G and the 2026 Thresholds
When a payout exceeds a set amount at an MGM casino, the property generates Form W-2G and hands you a copy before you leave the cage.2Internal Revenue Service. About Form W-2 G, Certain Gambling Winnings A second copy goes to the IRS. The dollar triggers depend on the game, and they changed starting January 1, 2026.
The minimum reporting threshold for Form W-2G rose to $2,000 and will be adjusted annually for inflation.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 Current triggers:
- Slot machines and bingo: $2,000 or more (up from $1,200)
- Keno: $2,000 or more after subtracting the wager (up from $1,500)
- Poker tournaments: $5,000 or more after subtracting the buy-in
- Sweepstakes, wagering pools, and lotteries: $5,000 or more, and at least 300 times the wager
Sweepstakes, wagering pool, and lottery winnings above $5,000 (after subtracting the wager) are subject to mandatory 24% federal withholding.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 If you refuse to give your Social Security number at a reportable win, backup withholding kicks in at the same 24%.
Non-cash prizes such as cars or vacation packages are reported at fair market value, determined by the casino at the time of the award. A $40,000 car means $40,000 of taxable income, whether you keep it or not.
You can receive multiple W-2G forms in a year from different properties or different wins at the same property. Each one is reported separately.
Reporting Winnings on Your Return
All gambling winnings are taxable, whether or not a W-2G was issued. The higher 2026 threshold changes the paperwork, not the tax: a $1,900 slot jackpot generates no form but still has to be reported.4Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 419, Gambling Income and Losses
Gambling income goes on Line 8b of Schedule 1 (Form 1040), reported as the gross amount before any losses.5Internal Revenue Service. Form 1040 Schedule 1 – Additional Income and Adjustments to Income The IRS already has copies of your W-2Gs, so a mismatch between your return and their records will usually produce a notice.
Deducting Gambling Losses
Losses can offset winnings, but three rules narrow who actually benefits.
First, starting in tax year 2026, the deduction is capped at 90% of your actual losses. If you won $10,000 and lost $10,000, the maximum deduction is $9,000, leaving $1,000 taxable on a break-even year. The change amended Section 165(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Second, losses are deductible only if you itemize on Schedule A.4Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 419, Gambling Income and Losses The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for joint filers, and $24,150 for heads of household.6Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 If your itemized total doesn’t clear that figure, the standard deduction wins and your gambling losses produce no benefit. Losses go in the “Other Itemized Deductions” section of Schedule A, and you cannot simply net losses against winnings on Schedule 1.7Internal Revenue Service. Publication 529 – Miscellaneous Deductions
Third, the IRS expects documentation. A contemporaneous log of dates, locations, games played, and amounts won or lost is the baseline, supported by W-2Gs, ATM receipts, and card statements. Your MGM Rewards win/loss statement adds credible third-party corroboration of your carded play, though it does not replace your own log.7Internal Revenue Service. Publication 529 – Miscellaneous Deductions
A narrow group of taxpayers qualifies as professional gamblers and reports on Schedule C. For them, business expenses tied to wagering now count against the same 90% cap and the ceiling of total winnings beginning in 2026, so gambling activity can no longer generate a net business loss that offsets other income.
1099 Forms for Non-Gambling Pay
If MGM pays you for something other than a win, such as freelance work, a performance, or rent, the payment is reported on a 1099 rather than a W-2G. The general reporting threshold is $600 or more in a calendar year.8Internal Revenue Service. About Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information
Pay for independent contractors, consultants, and performers goes on Form 1099-NEC.9Internal Revenue Service. About Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation That income flows to Schedule C and is subject to self-employment tax on top of regular income tax. Rent and some non-gambling prizes appear on Form 1099-MISC instead.10Internal Revenue Service. Form 1099-MISC – Miscellaneous Information 1099-MISC income generally doesn’t trigger self-employment tax unless it comes from a trade or business you run.
Nonresident Winners and Form 1042-S
Nonresident aliens who win at an MGM casino face a flat 30% federal withholding, taken out of the payout at the cage.11Internal Revenue Service. Publication 515 – Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities The withholding is reported on Form 1042-S rather than Form W-2G.12Internal Revenue Service. FAQs for Indian Tribal Governments Regarding Nonresident Alien Gambling Winnings
Winnings from blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, and the big-6 wheel are exempt from both the 30% withholding and the reporting requirement for nonresident aliens.11Internal Revenue Service. Publication 515 – Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities Slot wins, poker tournament prizes, and sports bets do not qualify.
If your country has a tax treaty with the United States that covers gambling income, a reduced rate or full exemption may apply. Submit a completed Form W-8BEN to the casino before the payout to claim the benefit.13Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-8BEN Treaty coverage varies by country. If you were withheld at 30% but qualify for a lower rate, file Form 1040-NR to recover the excess.
Shareholder Forms From Your Brokerage
If you own MGM Resorts International stock, your brokerage issues Form 1099-DIV for dividends and Form 1099-B for sales.14Internal Revenue Service. About Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions
On the 1099-DIV, qualified dividends are taxed at long-term capital gains rates, while ordinary dividends (Box 1a) are taxed as regular income. Which category applies depends on how long you held the shares around the ex-dividend date.
Form 1099-B shows sale date, proceeds, and cost basis for shares you sold.15Internal Revenue Service. About Form 1099-B, Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions Brokers are required to track basis for shares bought after 2011; for older lots, that record-keeping falls on you. The gain or loss gets reported on Form 8949 and carried to Schedule D.16Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets Watch for wash sale adjustments on the 1099-B if you sold at a loss and repurchased within 30 days; the loss is disallowed and added to the basis of the replacement shares.
If a Form Is Missing or Wrong
If February arrives and a W-2G you expected hasn’t, contact MGM Player Services or request a copy through the MGM Rewards reporting portal. For 1099 forms tied to non-gambling pay, contact MGM’s corporate tax department. Confirm first that your address and Social Security number on file are current; stale contact information is the most common reason forms don’t arrive.
If a corrected W-2G shows up after you’ve filed, or you realize you missed gambling income, amend using Form 1040-X, which you can file electronically.17Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 1040-X The IRS generally has three years from the filing date (or the deadline, whichever is later) to audit, so keep your gambling records at least that long and longer after a big year.
The income is reportable whether or not the form reaches you. The IRS has its copy, and a mismatch is one of the fastest ways to pull a notice.