Adoption and Poker

[Sarge85]

My wife and I are going to be adopoting a child this year (hopefully).

However, one thing were both concerned about is the fact that I claimed X amount of dollars on our taxes which the adopotion agency will have a look at.

I'm guessing that will probably turn some heads.

Has anyone been under similar circumstances? It just seems like doing the right thing by claiming the winnings has the potential to seriously bite me in the ass.

If we are turned down because I’m a “gambler” it will be devastating.

Anyway to sugar coat this?

(Should I put this in another fourm?)

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[swede123]

First of all, good going on adopting. There needs to be more people like you guys in the world.

I read your post as you have Poker winnings as auxillary income, but you also have a "real" job. Is this correct? If so, I'd be kind of vague with the Poker winnings, listing it as investment income or something.

If you are a full-time Poker player I'd probably be forth-coming with this information rather than making up some kind of story.

Swede

[Sarge85]

Thanks

It's supplemental income. We both have full time jobs.

On the 1040 there is a line for extra income, and a blank to describe what it is.

I put "Gambling"

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[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
It just seems like doing the right thing by claiming the winnings has the potential to seriously bite me in the ass.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry for a momentary hijack/rant but God this whole mindset pisses me off! If the government says you owe them a portion of your hard-earned income then paying it is automatically "the right thing" because they say so? [censored] thieving government brainwashing machine!

(Sorry. Couldn't be helped. End of rant.)

[mmbt0ne]

If it comes down to it, just tell them you hit a slot jackpot on a vacation to Vegas. You don't have to let them know that gambling = hours in front of a computer. You're just some lucky chump with no idea about EV. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Sarge85]

[ QUOTE ]
If it comes down to it, just tell them you hit a slot jackpot on a vacation to Vegas. You don't have to let them know that gambling = hours in front of a computer. You're just some lucky chump with no idea about EV. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

This has crossed our minds.

I've never won a big jackpot, but I thought the casino had you fill out some paperwork right away in these jackpot situations. (obviously we wouldn't be able to produce that)

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[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
If it comes down to it, just tell them you hit a slot jackpot on a vacation to Vegas.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was thinking that, but if it's over a certain amount then you would have documentation of your win, which you likely don't have.

If you both have full time jobs, I would just be honest about it. Just say you play as a hobby, and happen to be good at it.

[Sarge85]

[ QUOTE ]

If you both have full time jobs, I would just be honest about it. Just say you play as a hobby, and happen to be good at it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, seems like that may be the route I'm heading.

Apparently $1200 is the "magic" number for the casino to approach you and file paperwork if you hit a jackpot.

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[JoshuaD]

It's already been said, but the best thing you can do, in my opinion, is be forthcoming and explain that it's a hobby that you're good at. Say it's like playing stocks with your extra money.

[Blarg]

Don't say that or you'll sound like a degenerate moron with no conception of what gambling is.

To the OP -- great thing you're doing, and I wish you all the best. As another poster said, we definitely need more people like that in the world.