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Zoe Papanikolaou

Has anyone successfully gotten a casino to re-issue an incorrect W2G form? Need help ASAP!

I'm in a really frustrating situation with BetMGM right now. They sent me a W2G form that's completely wrong - showing thousands of dollars in gambling winnings that I definitely did not receive. I have all my statements and documentation that clearly shows these aren't my winnings. The problem is that the IRS is only going to see what's on this incorrect W2G form. I'm planning to contact BetMGM first to try to get them to reissue a corrected W2G, but from what I've been reading online, casinos and betting platforms aren't usually very responsive when it comes to fixing these mistakes, no matter what evidence you have. Has anyone here actually managed to get a casino to reissue a corrected W2G when you had proof the original was wrong? I'd love to hear any success stories. If BetMGM refuses to fix their mistake, I guess my options are: 1. File my taxes without including the incorrect W2G, then wait for the IRS to contact me so I can dispute it with them directly. 2. File including the W2G, pay taxes on money I never won, then try to dispute it later. Any advice on which approach is better or other options I might not be considering? This is so frustrating!

Jamal Wilson

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Taking the "wait for the IRS to contact you" approach is not your best option here. When the casino issues a W2G, they also send a copy to the IRS, so omitting it from your return will almost certainly trigger a notice. The best approach is to report the W2G exactly as issued on your tax return, but then include an explanation. File Form 8275 (Disclosure Statement) with your return, clearly explaining the discrepancy and that you've attempted to get the casino to correct it. Include your documentation showing your actual winnings as an attachment. This way, you're being transparent with the IRS while also disagreeing with the reported amount. You'll only pay tax on your actual gambling winnings (which you should report accurately). The Form 8275 disclosure helps reduce the chance of penalties since you're openly disclosing the issue rather than hiding it. Also, be persistent with BetMGM. Ask to speak with a supervisor in their accounting department. Send your documentation via certified mail with return receipt. Sometimes gambling establishments will correct errors if you're persistent enough.

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Mei Lin

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I appreciate the detailed response. For the Form 8275, do I need to include all my documentation with it or just reference that I have it available? And if I report only my actual winnings (which are much lower), will that still likely trigger an automated notice since it won't match what the casino reported?

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Jamal Wilson

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You should attach copies of your key documentation to the Form 8275, not just reference it. Include account statements, transaction histories, or anything that clearly shows the discrepancy between what was reported and what actually occurred. Even with Form 8275, there's still a chance you'll receive an automated notice because the IRS's initial matching process is automated. However, the disclosure statement creates a paper trail showing you were transparent from the start, which is important if a human reviewer needs to look at your case. If you do receive a notice, respond promptly with the same documentation, referencing your earlier disclosure.

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After dealing with a similar issue with a different casino, I found an amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me tremendously with my incorrect W2G situation. I was getting nowhere with the casino for weeks, but taxr.ai analyzed all my gambling records and documentation, then created a professional tax memo explaining exactly why the W2G was incorrect. They specialize in document analysis for tax disputes and can review your BetMGM statements, the incorrect W2G, and your evidence. Their system generated a detailed report that clearly showed the discrepancy and explained the correct tax treatment. I submitted their report to both the casino and eventually to the IRS, and it carried much more weight than my own explanation. The documentation they provided made a huge difference in my case. Might be worth checking out if you're hitting a wall with BetMGM.

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GalacticGuru

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How exactly does the service work? Do you just upload your documents and they do the analysis automatically? I'm curious because I have a ton of gambling records and it would take forever to organize them myself.

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Amara Nnamani

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I'm skeptical about using a third-party service for this. Wouldn't it be cheaper to just pay the tax on the incorrect amount and then file an amended return later if needed? How much time does this actually save?

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The service is really straightforward - you upload your gambling statements, the incorrect W2G, and any other relevant documentation. Their AI analyzes everything and identifies the discrepancies, then human tax experts review the findings and create a professional tax documentation package specifically for your situation. It's definitely not just about saving money on taxes - paying taxes on phantom gambling winnings can affect other parts of your return too, like pushing you into a higher tax bracket or affecting deductions and credits. Plus, once you've paid taxes on income you didn't earn, getting that money back through amendments can take many months or even years.

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GalacticGuru

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Just wanted to follow up - I ended up using taxr.ai like you suggested and I'm really glad I did! The casino had reported nearly $8k in winnings that weren't mine, and I was getting nowhere with their customer service. After uploading my documents to taxr.ai, they created this super detailed analysis showing exactly where the error occurred - turns out BetMGM had attributed someone else's jackpot to my account by mistake. The report was really professional and included all the relevant tax code citations. When I sent it to BetMGM's accounting department, they actually responded within a week and agreed to issue a corrected W2G! I think having that professional analysis made them take the issue seriously instead of just brushing me off. Thanks for recommending them!

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If you're still struggling with BetMGM's customer service, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had a similar issue with an incorrect W2G last year and couldn't get through to anyone who could actually help me. After weeks of frustration, I found Claimyr and it changed everything. Basically, they get you connected with a live IRS agent much faster than waiting on hold yourself. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I used them to speak directly with the IRS about my situation, and the agent explained exactly what documentation I needed to provide and the best way to dispute the incorrect W2G. The IRS actually gave me a case number I could reference when dealing with the casino, which seemed to light a fire under them. Having that official IRS case made all the difference in getting the casino to take my issue seriously.

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Wait, how does this actually work? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS these days. I've spent hours on hold and eventually just given up. Does this service somehow jump the queue?

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Dylan Cooper

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This sounds fishy to me. Why would I pay a service to call the IRS when I can do it myself for free? And even if I do get through, what can the IRS actually do about a casino's mistake? Seems like a waste of money when the real issue is with BetMGM.

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Claimyr has a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent actually picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to them. It doesn't jump any queues - it just handles the hold time so you don't have to sit there listening to the hold music for hours. The IRS can't force the casino to fix their mistake, but speaking with them is incredibly valuable. The agent I talked to explained exactly what forms to file and how to document the dispute if the casino wouldn't cooperate. They also told me specific language to use in my communications with the casino that referenced tax regulations. Having that official guidance makes a huge difference when you're trying to get a business to take action.

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Dylan Cooper

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I need to eat my words and apologize to Profile 18. After two more weeks of getting nowhere with the casino, I was desperate and decided to try Claimyr. I was connected to an IRS agent in about 40 minutes (while I was doing other things), when I had previously spent 3+ hours on hold without ever reaching anyone. The agent was super helpful and walked me through exactly how to dispute the incorrect gambling income. They gave me specific forms to submit and told me to request a "CSCO reconsideration" with my documentation. They also suggested I file a complaint with my state's gaming commission about the incorrect W2G. I filed the gaming commission complaint the next day, and miraculously, the casino called ME two days later. Apparently, the gaming commission takes these tax reporting errors seriously. They're sending a corrected W2G now. So yeah, getting that expert advice from the IRS was totally worth it.

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Sofia Morales

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I worked in casino accounting for years and can tell you that W2G corrections happen more often than you'd think, but most players don't know how to navigate the system properly. The key is to reach out to the casino's Compliance Department, not general customer service. Look for contact info for their "Title 31 Compliance Officer" or "Tax Compliance Department" - these are the people who actually handle tax reporting issues. Send a formal letter (email AND physical mail) that clearly states: 1) The incorrect W2G information, 2) The correct information with your evidence, and 3) A clear request for a corrected W2G to be issued. Mention that you're prepared to involve the Gaming Control Board and IRS if necessary. Include copies (not originals) of your ID, the incorrect W2G, and your evidence. Be professional but firm. Most casinos will correct legitimate errors once the right department is involved.

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Thank you so much for this insider perspective! I've been spinning my wheels with their general customer service. Do you know if there's typically a deadline for when they need to issue corrections by? Tax day is approaching and I'm getting really nervous.

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Sofia Morales

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There's no specific deadline for casinos to issue corrected W2Gs, but they generally need to be processed before the IRS filing deadline for them to be most useful to you. That said, even if they can't get it done before April 15th, still pursue the correction. If tax day is approaching and you don't have the corrected form yet, follow the advice about filing Form 8275 with your return to disclose the discrepancy. This protects you from penalties while you continue working on getting the correction. Once you receive the corrected W2G, you can file an amended return if necessary. The most important thing is to document everything and keep records of all your communications with the casino.

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StarSailor

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Has anyone used H&R Block or TurboTax to deal with an incorrect W2G? I'm wondering if the tax prep software has any special way to handle this situation or if I need to go to an actual tax professional.

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Dmitry Ivanov

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I used TurboTax last year when I had an incorrect 1099-MISC (not a W2G, but similar issue). TurboTax doesn't have a special feature for incorrect forms, but it does let you enter explanations. I entered the form exactly as it was issued, then used Form 8275 to explain the discrepancy. I had to print and mail my return though, couldn't e-file with that form attached.

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Chris Elmeda

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I went through something very similar with a different online casino last year. Here's what worked for me: First, don't waste time with regular customer service - they can't help with tax documents. Look up BetMGM's corporate headquarters address and send a certified letter to their "Tax Compliance Department" or "Chief Financial Officer." Include copies of all your documentation and be very specific about what's wrong. In your letter, mention that you're prepared to file complaints with both the IRS and your state's gaming commission if the error isn't corrected. Gaming commissions take tax reporting violations seriously because it affects their licensing. While you're waiting for their response, start preparing to file correctly regardless. If you don't get a corrected W2G in time, report the income exactly as shown on the incorrect form, but then subtract the erroneous amount as "Other Income" with a negative value and attach a statement explaining the error. This way your net gambling income reflects what you actually won. Also keep detailed records of every communication attempt with BetMGM. If this ends up going to the IRS, that paper trail will be crucial. The key is being persistent and escalating to the right departments - most of these errors do get resolved eventually if you don't give up.

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This is really helpful advice, especially the part about sending a certified letter to corporate headquarters. I've been dealing with their chat support for weeks and getting nowhere. One question - when you mention reporting the incorrect W2G amount and then subtracting it as "Other Income," do you know if that approach is better than using Form 8275 like others have suggested? I want to make sure I'm taking the safest route that won't trigger any red flags with the IRS.

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Kelsey Chin

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Both approaches can work, but Form 8275 is generally considered the safer, more conservative route by tax professionals. The "Other Income" negative adjustment method works, but it's more likely to trigger automated IRS scrutiny since it creates an unusual line item that their systems might flag for review. Form 8275 is specifically designed for situations where you need to disagree with a reported amount while still being transparent with the IRS. It creates a clear paper trail showing you're aware of the discrepancy and are proactively disclosing it rather than trying to hide anything. If you do go the Form 8275 route, just remember you'll need to print and mail your return since you can't e-file with that form attached. But given how close we are to tax season, the extra documentation and transparency is probably worth the minor inconvenience. The most important thing is having all your supporting documentation organized and ready to submit with whichever method you choose.

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Jamal Carter

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I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with DraftKings - they issued me a W2G showing $15,000 in winnings that I definitely didn't receive. It's incredibly frustrating because I have all my account statements proving the error, but their customer service keeps telling me they can't help with "tax matters." Reading through all these responses has been really helpful. I think I'm going to try the approach of contacting their Tax Compliance Department directly via certified mail like Sofia and Chris suggested. The insider perspective about avoiding general customer service and going straight to the compliance officers makes a lot of sense. I'm also planning to file Form 8275 with my return to disclose the discrepancy, even if I don't get a corrected W2G in time. Better to be transparent with the IRS from the start than deal with penalties later. Has anyone had experience with DraftKings specifically on W2G corrections? I'm wondering if they're more or less responsive than other platforms when it comes to fixing these errors.

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Malik Jenkins

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I haven't dealt with DraftKings specifically, but I had a similar issue with FanDuel last year. The key thing I learned is that these sports betting platforms often have their tax compliance handled by a third-party service, so the regular customer service reps literally can't access or modify tax documents even if they wanted to help. For DraftKings, I'd recommend looking up their parent company Flutter Entertainment's corporate contact info as well. Sometimes escalating to the parent company's compliance department gets faster results. Also, since you're dealing with $15k in phantom winnings, definitely consider filing a complaint with your state's gaming commission alongside the certified letter approach - that amount of tax impact makes it a serious reporting violation that regulators will want to address. The Form 8275 approach is definitely the right call. Even if DraftKings eventually issues a correction, having that disclosure filed with your original return shows the IRS you were being proactive about the discrepancy from day one.

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