- Mississippi casinos and sportsbooks will possible quickly have to conduct delinquent youngster assist checks earlier than issuing W-2G IRS types and main wins to gamblers
- There are at the moment 17 states that require gaming operators to intercept overdue youngster assist arrearages
- Mississippi is house to 19 casinos, which gained greater than $2.4 billion from gamblers in 2025
Laws in Mississippi cleared the State Legislature this week that might require casinos and sportsbooks to withhold winnings from gamers who’re delinquent on youngster assist funds.
A picket gravel on prime of money is pictured with a teddy bear. Mississippi casinos and sportsbooks will possible quickly have to conduct searches to find out if a significant winner owes youngster assist earlier than issuing the bettor with a W-2G IRS tax kind and their payout. (Picture: Shutterstock)
Senate Invoice 2369/Home Invoice 520 discovered widespread assist, with a 50-0 vote within the Senate and a 94-19 vote within the Home. The legislative clones would withhold excellent youngster assist cash from playing winnings.
If signed into regulation by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R), an individual successful an quantity that requires the on line casino or sportsbook to finish a W-2G IRS tax kind would should be checked for any owed youngster assist. If they’re, that quantity can be withheld, and the gaming operator would moreover be allowed to cost an administrative price of as much as $35.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, a slot machine handpay is triggered for wins of $2,000 or extra. Poker wins of $5,000 or extra (payout minus the buy-in) are additionally topic to W-2G necessities. For sports activities bettors, an IRS kind is often issued when the win is $600 or extra and the payout is at the very least 300 occasions the quantity wagered.
On line casino Little one Help Mandate
SB2369/HB520 would amend Mississippi’s gaming regulation to require that the Mississippi Gaming Fee collaborate with the Division of Human Companies to determine guidelines to withhold gaming winnings of individuals with excellent youngster assist arrearages. The regulation would apply to fit machines, sports activities betting, and different reportable money winnings.
If the quantity of due youngster assist exceeds the winnings, the participant “shall not obtain a cost.” The gaming licensee would want to remit the withheld cash to the Human Companies Division inside seven days.
If Tate indicators or permits the invoice to change into regulation, the statute will take impact and be in pressure from July 1, 2026.
Mississippi is house to 19 casinos. The properties gained greater than $2.43 billion in gross gaming income in 2025.
Many States Require Little one Help Checks
Mississippi is prone to be part of a laundry checklist of economic gaming states the place youngster assist checks are required earlier than a participant’s winnings and W-2G kind are issued.
There are at the moment 17 states that require casinos and/or sportsbooks to test for overdue youngster assist when issuing massive wins. Washington, DC, additionally necessitates that its on-line sportsbooks test youngster assist obligations.
Nevada, the richest gaming state within the nation, is among the many states that conduct youngster assist searches earlier than handing out W-2G types and winnings.