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Jamal Carter

Has anyone successfully gotten a casino to re-issue an incorrect W2G form? Need help dealing with BetMGM

I'm in a frustrating situation with BetMGM and hoping someone here has been through this. They sent me a W2G form claiming I had thousands in gambling winnings that I absolutely did not receive. I have all my records and documentation showing their mistake. The problem is the IRS only sees what's on that W2G form, so I'm worried about getting flagged for underreporting if I don't handle this right. My first thought is to try getting BetMGM to reissue a corrected W2G, but from what I've read online, casinos and betting sites can be really difficult about fixing these errors regardless of what evidence you provide. Has anyone successfully gotten a casino or betting site to reissue a corrected W2G when you had proof their form was wrong? What was your approach? If BetMGM refuses to correct it, I'm thinking I have two options: 1. File my taxes without including these phantom winnings, then wait for the IRS to contact me so I can dispute it with my evidence 2. Include the incorrect W2G, pay taxes on money I never won, then try to get a refund later Any advice from people who've dealt with this? I don't want to pay taxes on thousands I never actually won, but also don't want to trigger an audit by ignoring their form.

You shouldn't omit the W2G from your return even if it's incorrect. The IRS uses document matching, and when they see you didn't report what's on the W2G they received from BetMGM, you'll get a notice and potentially penalties. The best approach is to report exactly what's on the W2G on line 21 (Other Income) of your Form 1040, but then subtract the same amount on Schedule 1 with a clear notation "Correction to erroneous W2G from BetMGM." Attach a statement explaining the situation and include copies of your documentation showing the correct amounts. Document everything in your communications with BetMGM. Send them a certified letter requesting correction with your evidence attached. If they refuse, ask them to provide a written statement acknowledging their error that you can include with your tax return.

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Mei Liu

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If you include the full amount on line 21 but then subtract it elsewhere, won't that look suspicious to the IRS? Wouldn't they just assume you're trying to avoid taxes on gambling winnings?

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Including the amount on line 21 and then subtracting it on Schedule 1 with proper documentation actually shows good faith compliance with tax laws. You're acknowledging that you received the W2G form while simultaneously providing evidence of the error. The key is proper documentation. Include a detailed explanation of the error along with copies of your evidence showing the correct winnings amount. The IRS is actually quite reasonable when you provide a clear paper trail showing why you're making adjustments. They deal with corrected information all the time.

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After dealing with a similar headache last year, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was super helpful with documentation analysis. I had an incorrect 1099 from a client that reported almost double what they actually paid me, and dealing with the company was getting nowhere. Taxr.ai helped me organize all my evidence, create a proper paper trail, and put together documentation that clearly showed the discrepancy. They analyzed my bank records, betting history, and the incorrect W2G to create a comprehensive report that I could submit with my return. Made a huge difference in how confident I felt handling the situation.

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Amara Chukwu

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How exactly does the service work? Do they just help you organize documents you already have or do they somehow get additional evidence? I'm dealing with a similar issue but with a W-2 that has incorrect bonus amounts.

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Sounds interesting but I'm skeptical. Did you end up having to pay the taxes on the incorrect amount initially? Or did this actually prevent you from getting a letter from the IRS questioning the discrepancy?

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They don't get additional evidence but they analyze what you already have to create a professional report that clearly shows the discrepancy. You upload your documentation (in my case bank statements, betting records, and the incorrect W2G), and they organize it into a format that tax authorities can easily follow. They highlight the specific transactions that prove the error. I didn't have to pay taxes on the incorrect amount. I filed using the approach the expert mentioned above - reported the full amount on my return but then subtracted it with a clear explanation. I included the report from taxr.ai with my filing and never got any questions from the IRS about it. They seem to understand that third-party reporting isn't always accurate.

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I was super skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it after struggling with my own documentation issues. I had an incorrect 1099-K from PayPal showing business income that was actually just money transfers between my accounts. The service was surprisingly helpful. They organized all my bank statements and transaction histories to clearly show the money was just moving between my own accounts, not actual income. Their report made it crystal clear that the 1099-K was reporting the same money multiple times. When I filed my taxes with their documentation, I never heard a peep from the IRS even though there was a major discrepancy between what I reported and what was on the 1099-K. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

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If BetMGM isn't responding to you, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used them when I couldn't get any response from the IRS about a similar reporting issue. They got me through to an actual human at the IRS within 45 minutes when I had been trying for weeks with no luck. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c that shows how it works. I ended up getting connected with someone who explained exactly what documentation I needed to submit to resolve my issue. Before that, I was just getting automated responses and getting nowhere. Made a huge difference to actually talk to someone who could help.

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NeonNova

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Wait, how does this actually work? They somehow get you through the IRS phone tree faster? I've been trying to reach someone for three weeks about my tax transcript issue.

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This sounds too good to be true. The IRS wait times are legendary - I find it hard to believe any service can magically get you to the front of the line. Did you actually verify this isn't just taking your money for something you could do yourself?

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It's not magic - they basically keep calling the IRS for you using their system that navigates the phone trees automatically. When they finally get a human on the line, they connect the call to you. It saves you from having to sit there listening to hold music for hours. The main benefit is that they handle all the redials when you get disconnected and navigate all the prompts. For me, it was absolutely worth it because I had already spent over 8 hours across multiple days trying to get through with no luck. I was connected to an IRS representative in about 37 minutes with their service.

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I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I was desperate to talk to someone about my amended return that seemed to be stuck in limbo. The service actually worked exactly as advertised. I got connected to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes, which was miraculous considering I had tried calling at least 10 times before and never got through. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was happening with my amended return and what I needed to do next. For anyone dealing with documentation issues like incorrect W2Gs, being able to talk directly with the IRS about your specific situation is incredibly valuable. They told me exactly what evidence I needed to include with my return to avoid problems.

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This happened to me with Caesars last year. Here's what actually worked: I bypassed the general customer service and contacted their tax department directly. Most casinos have a dedicated tax team that deals with these issues. I sent them a certified letter (keep copies of everything!) with all my evidence, specifically requesting a corrected W2G. I also mentioned that incorrect information filing to the IRS could potentially be a violation of reporting requirements. That seemed to get their attention. It took about 3 weeks, but they eventually issued a corrected W2G. You might also want to contact your state gaming commission if BetMGM continues to be unresponsive - sometimes a gentle nudge from regulators can help move things along.

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Jamal Carter

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Thank you for this! Did you find the tax department contact info on their website, or did you have to call to get it? I've been scouring the BetMGM site and can't find anything beyond their general customer service.

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I couldn't find it on their website either. I had to call their general customer service line and specifically ask for "the department that handles W2G corrections" or "the tax compliance department." They initially tried to handle it themselves, but I insisted on getting the direct contact info for the specialized department. For BetMGM, you might also try reaching out to MGM Resorts' corporate tax department since they're the parent company. Sometimes the corporate level has more authority to handle these issues than the online gaming division's customer service.

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Whatever you do, don't just ignore the W2G! I made that mistake a few years ago with an incorrect 1099-MISC, and it created a huge headache. The IRS automatically assumed I was trying to hide income. Another option not mentioned yet: file IRS Form 4852 (Substitute for W2G) if the casino won't correct it. You'll need to provide an explanation and your evidence of the correct amount. It's similar to what people do when they can't get a corrected W-2 from an employer.

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Ava Thompson

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Form 4852 is only for W-2 and 1099-R forms, not for W2G forms. There isn't a specific substitute form for W2G, unfortunately.

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I went through this exact situation with DraftKings two years ago. They issued me a W2G for $8,500 in winnings that I never received - it was clearly a system error where they somehow duplicated transactions. Here's what worked for me: I gathered every piece of documentation I could find - screenshots of my account history, bank statements showing actual deposits, betting slip records, everything. Then I wrote a detailed letter to their compliance department (not customer service) explaining the discrepancy with a timeline of events. The key was being persistent but professional. I sent the letter certified mail and followed up every two weeks. It took about 6 weeks, but they eventually issued a corrected W2G showing the actual winnings amount. For your tax filing, I'd recommend the approach others mentioned - report the incorrect amount but then make an offsetting adjustment with clear documentation. I also kept copies of all my correspondence with DraftKings and attached those to my return as supporting evidence. One thing that helped was mentioning in my letter that incorrect tax reporting could potentially create compliance issues for them with gaming regulators. I wasn't threatening, just pointing out that accurate reporting benefits everyone involved. Don't give up - these companies deal with this more than they'd like to admit, and they do have processes in place to fix legitimate errors. You just have to get to the right department and be persistent.

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Miguel Ramos

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This is really helpful! I'm curious about the timeline - when you made the offsetting adjustment on your tax return, did you hear anything back from the IRS? I'm worried that even with good documentation, they might still flag it for review since there's such a large discrepancy between what I'm reporting and what's on the W2G. Also, do you remember roughly how long it took DraftKings to actually process the corrected W2G once they agreed to fix it? I'm getting close to the tax filing deadline and wondering if I should wait for BetMGM to hopefully issue a correction or just go ahead and file with the adjustment approach.

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Vanessa Chang

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I never heard anything from the IRS about the offsetting adjustment - they processed my return normally. I think having all the documentation attached really helped show it was a legitimate correction rather than tax evasion. As for timing, once DraftKings agreed to issue the corrected W2G, it took about 10 business days to actually receive it. But here's the thing - you don't necessarily need to wait for the corrected form to file your taxes. You can file with the adjustment approach using your documentation, and then if/when you get the corrected W2G, you can file an amended return if needed. Given that you're getting close to the deadline, I'd suggest filing with the adjustment method rather than waiting. The IRS is generally more understanding about good-faith efforts to report correctly than they are about late filing penalties. Just make sure your documentation package is really thorough - include everything that shows the actual amounts you won versus what's on the incorrect W2G.

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Jamal Harris

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I dealt with a very similar situation with FanDuel last year - they issued me a W2G showing $12,000 in winnings when I had actually only won about $3,200. What made it worse was that some of the "winnings" they reported were actually just my own deposit money being returned to me after cancelled bets. Here's my advice based on what worked for me: 1. **Document everything meticulously** - Screenshot your entire account history, download all transaction records, save bank statements showing actual deposits to your account. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case. 2. **Be very specific in your communications** - Don't just say "this is wrong." Point to exact transactions, dates, and amounts. I created a spreadsheet showing each discrepancy between their W2G and my actual records. 3. **Escalate strategically** - Start with their tax/compliance department, but if that doesn't work, contact your state gaming commission. I filed a complaint with my state regulator and suddenly FanDuel became much more responsive. 4. **File your taxes correctly regardless** - I used the offset method others mentioned here. Report the full W2G amount but then subtract the incorrect portion with detailed explanation. I attached a 10-page documentation packet to my return and never heard a peep from the IRS. The whole process took about 8 weeks, but FanDuel eventually issued a corrected W2G. Don't let them wear you down - these errors happen more often than they admit, and they have processes to fix them. You just need to be persistent and professional. Good luck!

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Oliver Weber

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This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I was hoping to find! The spreadsheet idea is brilliant - I've been keeping records but not in such an organized format. Can you share more details about what you included in that 10-page documentation packet you sent to the IRS? I want to make sure I'm being thorough enough with my evidence. Also, when you filed the complaint with your state gaming commission, did you do that before or after trying to work directly with FanDuel? I'm wondering if I should try that route with BetMGM since their customer service has been pretty unresponsive so far.

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Zara Malik

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I'm dealing with something very similar right now with Bovada - they sent me a W2G showing $15,000 in winnings when my actual net winnings were only about $4,200. It's incredibly frustrating because their customer service keeps giving me the runaround. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the key is getting to the right department and being extremely organized with documentation. I'm going to try the approach several people mentioned - bypassing regular customer service and asking specifically for their tax compliance or W2G correction department. One question for those who've been through this successfully: did any of you have to provide additional verification beyond your account records? Bovada is asking me to provide bank statements going back 12 months, which seems excessive for what should be a straightforward correction of their reporting error. Also, for anyone considering the taxr.ai service mentioned earlier - I'm curious if it's worth the cost compared to just organizing the documentation yourself. The peace of mind aspect sounds appealing, but I'm trying to weigh whether it's necessary if I'm already being meticulous with my record-keeping. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really helpful to know this isn't uncommon and that there are established ways to handle it properly.

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