Handpay on The Walking Dead Slot in Las Vegas, Nevada
It was a wonderful feeling – until the handpay itself came, and I was given only $1120. Why? The $480 difference was the 30% withholding tax (in cash) that the casino is required to hold by the US Government, for all players without a USA social security number.
I love travelling to Las Vegas, despite it being an 11 hour flight or so for me from my international location. Getting there is not much fun on long plane rights with interconnections at various airports and multiple security clearances, but when you touch down on Las Vegas soil it’s all worthwhile.
There’s just something very special about the Las Vegas area. The hotels aren’t hotels – they’re mega resorts, with just about every facility and functionality you could ever wish for. The variety of eating and drinking establishments is amazing. The shopping malls and outlet malls have a brilliant collection of stuff – and there’s no state tax to pay on purchases in Nevada either. And of course the casinos are amazing, with wonderful selections of slot machines – and some you simply won’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s a heady mix of fun and frivolity, all in one place.
I’ve long dreamed of having a super win in Las Vegas – or what those slot players in the know call a handpay. Simply put, a handpay is any amount over $1200. Under US law, any amount won on a slot machine of $1200 or more is considered a jackpot – and attracts US tax. I’ve always thought this is strange, because in principle you’re playing slots with tax paid income – so why should you also have to pay tax when you win? Still, laws are laws, and when in Rome (or Las Vegas) you’ve just got to comply.
Because I go to Las Vegas for 2 or 3 weeks at a time, due to international travel, I place bets at moderate levels to ensure my bankroll lasts the full trip. On slot machines, this typically means an average bet of $1 – $2 per spin only, so a “good win” might be $300 or more at a time. Because of this I’ve never had to experience a handpay or worry about the USA tax. This trip that all changed however. There I was sitting at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, around 11pm at night, and betting around $1.50 a spin, when I hit a handpay jackpot on The Walking Dead slot machine for $1600. That’s right – $1600! At first the spin was nothing remarkable, then I got a wild horde, and then a Michonne Attack – and together they produced the astonishing win you’ll see in the photo!
It was a wonderful feeling – until the handpay itself came, and I was given only $1120. Why? The $480 difference was the 30% withholding tax (in cash) that the casino is required to hold by the US Government, for all players without a USA social security number. As I’m international, I don’t have one – so my $480 was deducted at source. Can you claim this tax back from the US Government? It appears that in some circumstances the answer is yes, but it’s a quite a long drawn out process. You have to get a US taxpayer number for a start, then fill in various forms about the win, then claim. I’ll probably do that due to the sum involved – it’s worth a try – but I’m not holding my breath.
Anyway, regardless of the tax, the win itself was AWESOME. I had a real adrenaline rush at the time, and remember sleeping very well. I’ve had multiple jackpots playing slot machines online in the past, with no US tax payable, but there’s something about getting physical cash put in your hand at the time, as it was in Las Vegas. I still find the online slots better value (they typically pay back 94-97% vs Las Vegas Strip 90-92%), but there’s room for both in my entertainment budget.
Photos below show the handpay jackpot screen and player information screen.
Jackpot Handpay on The Walking Dead Slot Machine at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Nevada
Jackpot Handpay at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Nevada
