Page 32 - July 2011 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
SImartphone Logbook: There’s an App for That
have written about keeping a gambling logbook in the past. is month I want to share an idea for those who may not have one. e main reason to keep a gambling log is for tax purposes. When you win a jackpot over $1,199 at the casino, you will receive a w-2g form. A copy of this goes to the irs, and you are required to list these winnings
when ling your income tax. e law allows you to deduct gambling losses up to the amount of your winnings. You can only do this if you have documentation of your losses. Keeping a diary or logbook, is the way to do this.
most popular casino games: slots, video poker, blackjack, Texas Hold’em, etc. If you play a game that is not in the list, you can add it to the menu.
at’s all you have to do. ere is an additional line to add any notes you might want to record about your session. After you enter a few sessions into the Gamblers Anonymous app, you can get your ongoing win or loss amount by pressing the “Stats” button. You can even sort your results by game, by place or by year.
Finally, you can e-mail your results to yourself or anyone else from the program. is is handy if you need to print out a copy of your log. e Gamblers Anonymous iPhone app sells for 99 cents. ere is also a free “Lite” version you can download if you want to try it. For 99 cents the full version is a bargain.
Smartphones
If you don’t have an iPhone, but own any other type of smartphone, you will still be able to use it to keep your gambling log. Most smartphones have the capability to use some sort of spreadsheet program that is perfect for keeping track of your gambling sessions. Most players who keep logs use this type of program already. For those of you who keep a log, you might not have thought about accessing it with your mobile device.
Using you mobile phone is an e cient way to log your playing sessions. You can do it right after you cash out, or while you are standing in line at the cashier’s cage. You no longer have to record your sessions on paper and then transfer them to a permanent log later. If you own a smartphone,. you really have no excuse for not keeping a logbook.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at billburton.com. Burton is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps: thecrapsclub.com.
Your gaming log does not have to be fancy. All you need to do is record:
1) e type of game you played (slots, keno, video poker, etc.).
2) e date and location where you played.
3) Your wins and losses for each session or game.
4) Additional evidence of gambling activities.
Tax information does change, and I am not an accountant, but this type of log has been accepted by the irs in the past. If you have a number of large wins, it would probably be wise to discuss this with a Certi ed Public Accountant.
Recording your wins and losses for taxes is only one reason to keep a logbook. If you play a game of skill such as poker or blackjack, you can use your logbook to access and review your skills. If you are serious about your game, it is imperative that you keep a log. Keeping records is the only way you will be able to tell if you are a winning player or not.
Why Players Don’t Keep Records
e number one reason why people do not keep a log is because they feel it is inconvenient. Most players who keep a gambling log have it on a computer spreadsheet, or in a larger notebook at home. ey record their sessions after they play, and then copy the information into their permanent log when they get back from a casino trip. is requires a little work and dedication, and many players don’t feel it is worth the e ort.
Some players have good intentions about keeping a gambling log, but then they forget to bring a pen to record their playing session, when they go the casino. ey forget to log a session or two. After this happens once or twice, they may give up.
If there was a way to record your playing sessions in a permanent log in a few seconds, would you be more inclined to keep one?
Well, the good news is there is a device you can use to keep your gambling log, and the chances are you are wearing it on your belt, or have it in your purse. It’s your smartphone.
iPhone App
If you own an iPhone, you can download an app to keep track of you wins and losses. Gamblers Anonymous is an interactive gambling logbook app that will record all of the necessary information you need. Although the name of the app has nothing to do with the organization, it is by far the best and most useful gambling-related iPhone app that I have found to date.
e program is easy to use, and you can easily record your playing sessions in less than a minute. When you open the app, you start by clicking on the plus button to add a new session. e rst line is where you select the casino where you are playing. If you play at more than one casino, you can enter them all in the program the rst time you use it. You only have to do this once, and after that the list of casinos will appear in a drop-down menu, and you can select the casino from the list.
e next line is where you enter the date and time of your playing session. By default, the present date and time is displayed, and you just have to hit the save button.
When you click on the next line, a box opens where you enter your “Buy-in Amount” and the “Cashout Amount.”
When you hit the save button, the program calculates how much you won or lost.
e next line is where you select the game you were playing. ere is a drop-down menu with eleven of the
PAGE 32
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
July 2011