Building A Session Logger
To ensure you only pay taxes on your actual gains and not inflated gross withdrawals, it is important to keep a detailed session logger. Without such a document you are unable to report your gambling activity accurately on your tax return.
Session Details
Date(s) | Casino | Game(s) |
01/12/2026 - 01/15/2026 | Modo | Blackjack |
01/17/2026 - 01/19/2026 | High 5 | Blackjack, Roulette |
01/23/2026 - 01/24/2026 | WOW Vegas | Slots |
In the session details you must include the date(s) of your session, casino, and game(s) played to have an audit-compliant session log.
Make sure your session lengths are reasonable and can be explained.
Session Financials
Buy-In(s) | Withdrawal | Taxable Gain | Deductible Loss |
$300 | $350 | $50 | $0 |
$400 | $380 | $0 | $20 |
$500 | $500 | $0 | $0 |
In your session financials you must include your buy-ins and withdrawals which will determine your taxable gain or loss for each session.
Buy-In(s) = Sum of all purchases and new money injected into your bankroll during a session
Withdrawal = Amount you cashed out at the end of a session resulting in its closure
Taxable Gain = Net-positive session gain (Withdrawal in excess of Buy-In(s))
Deductible Loss = Net-negative session loss (Buy-In(s) in excess of Withdrawal)
Final Gambling Winnings and Losses
Total Buy-Ins | Total Withdrawals | Total Taxable Gains | Total Deductible Losses |
$1,200 | $1,230 | $50 | $20 |
At the end of the year you will add up all of your sessions which closed during the calendar year and you now have an audit-compliant and tax-ready session log.
Total Taxable Gains = Gambling Income
Total Deductible Losses = Gambling Losses
Want A Free Spreadsheet To Track Your Sessions?
Click below to instantly access an audit-compliant template to track your social and sweepstakes casino sessions.