Free Gambling Wins and Losses Log for Taxes
The record the IRS asks gamblers to keep, as a spreadsheet: every session, winnings and losses kept separate, and a year-end summary.
By Greg Kajewski · Updated 2026-10-07
If you bet, every dollar you win is taxable income, and the only way to deduct losses is to prove them. This log is built around the diary the IRS describes in Publication 529, with an annual summary that keeps winning and losing sessions separate and applies the loss rules for the year you pick.
General information and a record-keeping template only, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax rules change and depend on your circumstances, and state rules differ. Confirm your filing with a qualified tax professional and IRS Publication 529.
What is in the gambling log for taxes
Settings
Tax year. The loss deduction percentage fills in from the year: 100% for 2025 and earlier, 90% for 2026 and later.
Annual Summary
Total wagered, total of winning sessions, total of losing sessions, estimated deductible losses if you itemize, W-2G count, and breakdowns by activity type and by month.
Session Log
Date, activity type, platform or establishment, location, people present, amount wagered, amount returned, W-2G received and the supporting record for each entry. Win or loss calculates.
| Date | Activity | Platform or venue | Wagered | Returned | Win / loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-10 | Sports bet | Sportsbook app | $100.00 | $600.00 | $500.00 |
| 2026-01-20 | Slots | Casino, Las Vegas NV | $300.00 | $0.00 | -$300.00 |
| 2026-02-02 | Sports bet | Sportsbook app | $400.00 | $150.00 | -$250.00 |
How to use it
What the IRS asks you to record
IRS Publication 529 says to keep an accurate diary or similar record of your gambling winnings and losses that shows the date and type of each wager or wagering activity, the name and address or location of the gambling establishment, the names of other people present with you, and the amounts you won or lost. The Session Log has a column for each of those.
Keep the proof next to the log
A diary is stronger with documents behind it: Forms W-2G, wagering tickets, account statements from sportsbook and casino apps, bank and card records, and payment slips. Add a note in the Supporting record column for each row saying where the proof lives, like a statement month or a screenshot folder. You do not file the log with your return. You keep it in case you are asked to support a deduction.
Winnings and losses are reported separately
You report the total of your winnings as income. Losses are a separate itemized deduction on Schedule A, and only up to the amount of your winnings. That is why the Annual Summary totals winning sessions and losing sessions separately instead of netting the year into one figure. If you take the standard deduction, losses do not reduce your tax at all.
The 2026 change: only 90% of losses count
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) amended Internal Revenue Code section 165(d) so that, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, only 90% of gambling losses are deductible, still limited to winnings. A bettor who wins $10,000 and loses $10,000 in 2026 can deduct $9,000, which leaves $1,000 of winnings taxed even though they broke even. Set the tax year on the Settings tab and the summary applies the right percentage.
Every activity counts, not just sports
Casino games, slots, poker, lottery tickets, horse racing, daily fantasy and prediction market contracts can all produce gambling income or losses, and how some newer products are treated is still being worked out. The Activity type column lets you split the year by activity so you and your tax professional can see exactly what came from where.
Why a CPA-founded company built this
BettorEdge co-founder Greg Kajewski is a CPA. The most common problem with gambling taxes is not the math, it is the missing record: people reach April with a W-2G for a big win and no proof of a year of losses. Ten seconds per session, logged as you go, fixes that.
Better prices make every row better.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to report gambling winnings if I did not get a W-2G?+
Yes. All gambling winnings are taxable income whether or not a W-2G was issued. A W-2G is only issued above certain thresholds, so most winnings never generate one. Log every winning session.
Can I deduct gambling losses?+
Only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A, and only up to the amount of your gambling winnings for the year. Losses cannot create a net loss to offset other income and do not carry forward. Starting in 2026, only 90% of losses are deductible.
What records does the IRS want for gambling losses?+
Publication 529 describes a diary showing the date and type of wager, the name and address or location of the establishment, the names of other people present, and the amounts won or lost, supported by documents such as W-2Gs, wagering tickets, account statements and bank records.
Should I log every bet or every session?+
Log at the level your records support. Many bettors log each sports bet individually since app statements show each one, and log casino play by session. Whatever you choose, keep winning and losing entries separate rather than netting the year.
Does this log calculate my tax?+
No. It organizes your records and estimates deductible losses under the federal loss limit. It does not calculate tax owed, and state rules differ. Take the summary to a tax professional.
Is this tax advice?+
No. This is a general record-keeping template and general information. Tax rules change and depend on your situation. Confirm your filing with a qualified tax professional, IRS Publication 529 and the current Form 1040 instructions.