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The IRS has now published updated confirmation that the casino slot jackpot tax is to be almost doubled in 2026.
An X post by Vital Vegas stated: “Sources say the IRS will officially confirm the reporting threshold for slot jackpots increases from $1,200 to $2,000 starting Jan 1. Now, mad dash for casinos to implement the change.”
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was reported in July this year, stated that a measure to increase the minimum amount that has to be reported on a jackpot win on a slot machine was set to be introduced.
Now, an amount of $2,000 (£1,500) will come into effect on January 1, 2026, and this is set to increase every year in line with inflation.
Casinos are now rushing to implement the change
The previous threshold of $1,200 (£900) has been in place in casinos since 1977, marking the first significant change in nearly 50 years.
Up until the 1st of January 2026, casinos were required to hand pay slot wins for prizes of $1,200 or more by the federal tax code. As such, the player is issued a W-2G tax form to report any gambling winnings, and this is then filed with the IRS.
For calendar years after 2025, the minimum threshold amount for reporting certain payments and backup withholding on certain information returns, including the Form W-2G, will be adjusted yearly for inflation. The minimum threshold amount for payments made in calendar year 2026 is $2,000,” said the IRS in a document regarding the change at the start of 2026.
This increase has taken months to officially be confirmed, leaving thousands of casinos required to update regulations for the new $2,000 threshold.
That could take time, meaning casinos may not be in alignment with the January 1 date for the IRS update on this threshold.
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Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook has launched a new feature called “For You” on December 17. This is an in-app personalization hub that caters to each user and their individual betting habits.
This is based on things such as favorite leagues, players, teams, and betting history, allowing every single user to have a more entertaining and immersive experience at Hard Rock Bet.
There are several benefits to this new feature. First of all, players can follow their favorite players and teams in one designated section of the app.
Users can also take advantage of things such as suggested parlays, which are pre-built and decided by your favorite bets, or Parlay and pass, which allows players to add or skip legs in order to build a bet quickly.
Elsewhere, there are recommendations based on what other fans are betting on, plus a section on your trends, focusing on the players and teams you bet on most often.
“‘For You’ represents an exciting milestone in Hard Rock Bet’s continued investment in personalization and player-focused innovation, leveraging the power of data to tailor every player’s journey,” said Mike Primeaux, Executive Managing Director – Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock Digital.
From mood-based bets to personalized parlays and individualized trends, we’re creating a smarter, more connected experience that anticipates what our players want.”
“For You” feature is the latest innovation from Hard Rock Bet
In April this year, Hard Rock Bet released the Stats Hub within its sportsbook app. This feature is powered by GTG Network and delivers real-time statistics and data-based analysis so users can place strategic bets.
A year prior, the sportsbook launched SGP (Same Game Parlay) Max, allowing bettors to parlay multiple SGPs, while being able to combine up to 20 bets across a range of markets.
Hard Rock Bet has now officially launched in Michigan as of earlier this month. This news, combined with its latest “For you” feature, showcases how much the sportsbook is expanding heading into 2026.
Featured image: Hard Rock Sportsbook
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