Does anyone keep a gambling log?

[Blase]

After doing my taxes this year, I vowed that I would get better about keeping a log of my wins and losses, but since I didn't start in January of this year, I thought that I'll definitely start one in January 2017. Then I decided, no time like the present, and I started one with my last casino visit on Saturday.

I'm not talking writing down specific machine numbers or anything like that (like the IRS wants you to do) but rather, what did you start with at the beginning and what did you end with. I know some people are on here are really good about knowing what's in their wallet/purse at any time, but I'm not one of them. And I tend to like to forget about the walks of shame or losses when I have losing trips, but I need to get better about that too just so I can see if I'm really actually doing well gambling or not.

I also wrote down "highlights," like, "won Minor progressive on Thunder Cash at $371" or "had a nice bonus on Buffalo Stampede." If I ever win a handpay again I'll definitely make note of it too!

Just wondering if anyone else does this. Or if I have too much time on my hands?

[Penguin]

We probably do too much. On 3 x 5 card jot down name of machine, $ in and $ out, and lastly credits earned. Also have log on envelop of dollars taken to casino and dollars brought home. We keep the slot money separate from other spending cash. This year with Cathy's hand pay we may use this as back up to claim our gambling losses. The 3 x 5 card thing takes about 1 minute per machine, no big deal. Gotten pretty good at just a few letters to name machine.

[DK528]

I don't but I'm thinking I may start.

I forgot a W-2 in 2014 and so I got a nice note from the IRS saying I owe them more money. I wrote a detailed letter and attached all of my W/L statements that show that my losses definitely cover my wins (surprisingly
not by a crazy amount but a clear difference). Waiting to hear how they respond. If they don't accept the statements as enough proof, which may be a distinct possibility, I'll pay it bc I don't have any other real proof and will start a detailed log going forward.


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[Elf70]

I track my win/loss for slotting for each day of each trip. I also keep track of my coin in and comps earned (theo or theoretical win that the casino tracks) for each trip. I could never keep track of my play at each machine. I'm just not disciplined enough. I usually play the same machines so I figure if I ever had to I could create a fairly accurate estimate of an actual daily log. I keep everything on the notes app on my phone.


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[slotbender]

I've never tracked my casino visits. For the past 15 or so years I've only relied upon the win/loss statements at tax time and have never had any problems. I go there to gamble and enjoy my casino visits, I don't go there to be an accountant - that's just me : )

[dvandentop]

No just look at overall win loss

[treyster]

Isn't there an app designed for tracking W/L?

[sassycat]

I keep a journal of all my casino trips with beginning points, points each day plus bonus points, and end of trip points - and if I get a handpay. Since James and I gamble together - this is a little harder but I keep a record of how much we won or lost for trip too. That's pretty easy because we don't take money= we take out markers and at the end of the trip - I pay off the markers with what we have won or have left and write a check for the difference. We keep a separate checking account that is used for only this.

Also - if I cash in freeplay and any concerts that weekend - I write that down too.

[charlie50]

NO..I look at it like this its Obummys job to keep track of my gambling losses .HHH...... no I brake even at the end of the year usaly.

[oldslotguy]

Yes I do. Place/time in,out/ win/loss for that day. Totaled monthly, and of course at the yr. end. Never had an audit (yet), but 'just in case' as they do not have to accept win/loss statements as proof.