If you are a fan of going to the casino and are hopeful of winning some money, there is some good news for you. At the start of the year, the amount of money that you need to report to the government went up, meaning Minnesotans can win more before having to let Uncle Sam know.

Higher Jackpot Threshold For Reporting

When you go to a casino and you win BIG, you know that the amount won really doesn't make it into your bank account. Uncle Sam and the State of Minnesota have to get their cut, too, but now we've hit 2026, Uncle Sam isn't notified until you hit a higher amount of winnings.

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According to Treasure Island Casino, the amount that you need to hit before reporting it on your taxes went up this year. Instead of $1,200 or more in winnings being reported on a W-2G, that number is now higher.

From $1,200 to $2,000

Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was passed in 2025, the amount for winning a jackpot for games like Bingo, slot machines, and, in some states, Keno, went up from $1,200 or, in some cases, $1,500 to $2,000. The new number, $2,000, will vary from year to year as it is expected to rise with inflation regularly. 

However, if you regularly play the Minnesota State Lottery, including scratch-offs or the Powerball and Mega Millions, the jackpot amount that requires you to start reporting to the State of Minnesota is $600.

If you've got questions about gambling winnings, you can learn more through the Minnesota Department of Revenue here or through the IRS website here. 

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