Alias Players Card Jackpot W2-G Question

[Finn Dog]

OK, here's one humdinger of a hypothetical question for you:

Let's say you're in a casino and because you're counting but also comp hustling, you're using an alias Players Card with offers coming to a nearby relative's address.

Then, let's say for camo, you're putting up some $1 slot action. And then it happens: you win a jackpot high enough to trigger a W2-G (or let's say you win one of the two largest Lucky Ladies sidebets)...great Caesar's Ghost, now what?

All of a sudden the blazers descend upon you...and you're asked for your Drivers License...so you say you left your wallet back at your hotel or you lost your wallet last night (but this will sure make up for it).

Then they ask for your Social Security number, which you furnish, but it gets recorded and the W2-G is issued under the alias with your SS#.

What are the repercussions? (Let's say the alias was a few letters off from your real surname but both surnames started with the same first few letters but your first name was spot on.) Any CPAs in the house or ex-IRS agents or anyone have an educated guess?

Best regards,

FD

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by Finn Dog

you're asked for your Drivers License...so you say you left your wallet back at your hotel or you lost your wallet last night (but this will sure make up for it).

I highly, highly doubt that the casino would allow you to fill out a W-2G under a fake name, even if you put your real SSN down. I'd guess you'd be asked to get your ID. It's much easier to explain to the casino that you were using a fake card than to explain to the IRS that you were using a fake name, so given the choice, piss off the casino, not the IRS. Lying to the casino - "I changed my name," for instance - is not a crime, but lying to the IRS will quickly land you in Federal Pound Me In The Ass prison. Getting your casino privileges revoked for using someone else's card is a mild punishment compared to getting your freedom revoked for what the IRS might interpret as tax evasion.

If this scenario is not hypothetical, I'd immediately visit a tax professional to help you sort this out, and perhaps even a lawyer. The IRS is not an institution that you want to f[ool] around with. The casinos ... meh.

[hawkeye]

That hypothetical question is rough, I truly hope it is hypothetical and you're not writing this from a hotel room in Vegas.

[blackchipjim]

I'm not a professional anything but it is my oppinion that as long as you come clean with the real ssn and Id in the end you aren't in any real trouble. The " I don't want my ..... to know I gamble " is a plausible excuse for not having the correct name or address on the card. I would not bullshit anyone when it comes to taxes or fessing up to your real identity or you could be in for a big hassle. That's just my opinion on the whole thing. blackchipjim

[UncrownedKing]

The " I don't want my ..... to know I gamble " is a plausible excuse for not having the correct name or address on the card.

I think this is your best bet. The IRS won't give a crap about anything you say to them. Give the casino ^^ that line. They will be pissed but not as pissed as the IRS.

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by blackchipjim

I'm not a professional anything but it is my oppinion that as long as you come clean with the real ssn and Id in the end you aren't in any real trouble.

Clarification - you aren't in any real trouble with the IRS, which is the real real trouble. You might get into real trouble with the casino and have your comps revoked, but that's not real real trouble.

[moo321]

I wouldn't play any game that could trigger a w2g with a fake identity in the first place.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by moo321

I wouldn't play any game that could trigger a w2g with a fake identity in the first place.

Good call. If you win a slot bonus with a fake card (or someone else's card) they might try to default on you by claiming that you won it fraudulently.

-Sonny-

[Finn Dog]

Great input from everyone thus far!

Originally Posted by hawkeye

That hypothetical question is rough, I truly hope it is hypothetical and you're not writing this from a hotel room in Vegas.

Nope, just my vivid imagination cooking in my practice laboratory--and wanting to know all my bases are covered before I get out of the D-League--you know: ex-Boy Scout.

Originally Posted by moo321

I wouldn't play any game that could trigger a w2g with a fake identity in the first place.

I agree with moo; looks like this is the most prudent course to take.

Therefore, it appears if you're going to be playing any side bet with windfall potential, you'd better use your real identity (just in case)...same goes for any slot cover that could generate an unforseen W2-G.

In summary, to me it looks like the most realistic approach to the standing debate of playing rated with your real identity, or with an alias, or playing unrated is to play rated with your true identity--as this will cover three bases:

1. Automatically the Pit will not be suspicious of someone playing unrated.

2. You won't throw away the comps.

3. You can add slot cover and not have to worry about an unforeseen W2-G windfall or you can play the Lucky Ladies and not worry either.

Then, if you're ultimately back off from the chain from either cume wins or bonehead plays, you could if necessary resort to the legal means of changing your name and start all over.

Best regards,

FD

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by Finn Dog

1. Automatically the Pit will not be suspicious of someone playing unrated.

Not necessarily. It is possible to play unrated without getting heat for it. It all depends on your playing style.

Originally Posted by Finn Dog

2. You won't throw away the comps.

True, but sometimes the comps will not be more valuable than the play. It is nice to have both but in many cases you will have to choose one or the other. If you’re playing nickels then you won’t get many comps and if you’re playing blacks you probably don’t want the attention unless you're comp hustling. It all depends on the individual situation.

Originally Posted by Finn Dog

3. You can add slot cover and not have to worry about an unforeseen W2-G win fall and you can play the Lucky Ladies and not worry either.

I think you are relying much too heavily on slot cover. Frankly I don’t think there is such a thing. I’ve never known an AP who didn’t get backed off because he had some slot play on his card. If they catch you, you’re done. No amount of slot play will save you, it will only make you poorer.

My overall advice: Stop worrying about it. It should be quite a while before you need to worry about cover plays, aliases, and big bonuses. By the time you need this information you will know it. Right now just focus on playing a strong game. Without that you won’t need all the other stuff.

-Sonny-