Casino and slots winnings tax in Iowa
Iowa taxes slot machine winnings as ordinary income at a flat 3.8%.
On a $5,000 slot machine win, $190 is withheld at payout. The tax comes to $790 ($600 federal and $190 Iowa), $600 of it due when you file, so you keep $4,210. That's for a single filer with $60,000 of other income and no gambling losses.
Updated · 2026 tax rules · How we calculate
You keep
$4,210
Cash at payout
$4,810
Total tax
$790
Due when you file
$600
- Form W-2G
- Yes
- Federal withholding at payout
- $0
- Federal tax on the winnings
- $600
- State tax
- $190
- Iowa withholding at payout
- $190
- Still to pay when you file
- $600
- You keep
- $4,210
$5,000 is at or above the $2,000 reporting threshold, so the payer files a W-2G with the IRS and gives you a copy.
Casino and slots winnings aren't subject to regular federal withholding, whatever the amount. Tax is still owed when you file. If you don't give the payer your Social Security number, 24% backup withholding applies.
Winnings are ordinary income stacked on your other $60,000. Your top dollar lands in the 12% bracket.
Iowa taxes gambling winnings as ordinary income.
Iowa requires the payer to hold back 3.8% for state tax.
Tax owed ($790) minus what was withheld ($190). Set this aside. A large balance can also mean an underpayment penalty unless you make an estimated payment.
$5,000 minus $790 in federal and state tax: an effective rate of 15.8%.
An estimate for 2026, not tax advice. It treats this win as your only gambling income for the year and leaves out local income taxes. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
The rules
- Iowa tax
- Iowa taxes slot machine winnings as ordinary income at a flat 3.8%.[1]
- Federal tax form
- Slot machine and bingo winnings of $2,000 or more are reported on a W-2G, without subtracting the wager. The threshold was $1,200 before 2026. Keno is also $2,000, after subtracting the wager on the winning game.[2]
- Federal withholding
- Slot machine, keno and bingo winnings are exempt from regular gambling withholding by statute, whatever the amount.[4]
- Iowa withholding
- Iowa withholds 3.8% on slot machine winnings over $1,200.[5]
- Gambling losses
- Iowa starts from federal taxable income, so gambling losses lower your Iowa tax only if you itemize them federally, with the federal 90% limit.[6] How the federal 90% loss rule works
- Visitors
- Iowa taxes nonresidents on slot machine winnings won there, so visitors may need to file a nonresident return.[7]
- Where to play
- Iowa has casinos.[8]
What you keep at different amounts
For a single filer with $60,000 of other income and no gambling losses, living and winning in Iowa.
| Won | W-2G | Withheld | Federal tax | State tax | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | No | $57 | $180 | $57 | $1,263 |
| $2,000 | Yes | $76 | $240 | $76 | $1,684 |
| $5,000 | Yes | $190 | $600 | $190 | $4,210 |
| $10,000 | Yes | $380 | $1,550 | $380 | $8,070 |
| $100,000 | Yes | $3,800 | $22,114 | $3,800 | $74,086 |
Records to keep for slot machine winnings
A slot jackpot is reported on its own, without subtracting what you put in the machine. Keno and bingo follow similar rules.
Losses only count if you can prove them. For slot machine winnings, the IRS suggests keeping:[9]
- Slot machines: the machine number, and all winnings by date and time you played it
- Keno: the keno tickets you bought, validated by the casino, and copies of your casino credit and check-cashing records
- Bingo: the number of games played, what you paid for tickets and what you collected on winning tickets, plus any receipts from the casino or bingo hall
The IRS proposed counting slot wins and losses per session (one casino, one calendar day) in Notice 2015-21, but never finalized it.[10]
All of this goes alongside the diary the IRS expects for every kind of gambling: keeping gambling records the IRS will accept.
Questions
- How much is Iowa tax on slot machine winnings?
- Iowa taxes slot machine winnings as ordinary income at a flat 3.8%.[1]
- Does Iowa withhold tax from slot machine winnings?
- Iowa withholds 3.8% on slot machine winnings over $1,200.[5]
- Do visitors pay Iowa tax on slot machine winnings?
- Iowa taxes nonresidents on slot machine winnings won there, so visitors may need to file a nonresident return.[7]
More for Iowa
All of Iowa's gambling tax rules · Casino and slots in every state
Sources
- [1] Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 · checked September 22, 2026
- [2] IRS, Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 (01/2026) · checked September 22, 2026
- [3] Federal Register, REG-113229-25 proposed rule (Apr. 17, 2026) · checked September 22, 2026
- [4] 26 U.S. Code § 3402 (withholding) · checked September 22, 2026
- [5] Iowa DOR: Iowa Withholding Tax Information · checked September 22, 2026
- [6] Iowa DOR IA 1040 Expanded Instructions, Intro 4: Conformity with the Internal Revenue Code · checked September 22, 2026
- [7] Iowa DOR: Iowa Tax On Gambling · checked September 22, 2026
- [8] Covers, Legal sports betting in the US · checked September 22, 2026
- [9] IRS, Publication 529, Miscellaneous Deductions · checked September 28, 2026
- [10] IRS, Notice 2015-21 (slot machine sessions) · checked September 22, 2026