Can the Government Tax My Crypto Betting Earnings?

These days, your earnings are almost always taxed, irrespective of the industry in which you work. Many people are wondering if their country's government will tax their cryptocurrency winnings. Individuals are like, “It's an online game that pays me for fun, so why should I pay taxes on betting games?”

You need to take a closer look at taxation in CryptoBetting and how it works. Here, we'll talk about this in a general way, so you can use the information no matter what country you live in.

What is Crypto Betting?

Crypto betting is pretty much the same as betting in regular casinos. The only element that sets Bitcoin betting apart is that now you'll be using cryptocurrency in place of traditional money. Therefore, you get to enjoy the benefits of crypto being utilized in gaming processes.

Using cryptocurrency does not necessarily change the betting process, but it may cause changes in actions such as depositing and withdrawing. This change shouldn't scare you either; in almost every case, it only makes the gameplay more efficient.

There are already dozens of options for Bitcoin casinos, not to mention those that accept other cryptocurrencies. Bear in mind, though, that not all Bitcoin casinos are created equal. Do your research before you sign up for a site. You don't want to end up on a scam site that won't pay you or honor your withdrawal requests.

Is Crypto Betting Illegal?

Before you talk about taxing cryptocurrency betting earnings, you need to first be sure you can actually play the game. This makes you wonder if it's illegal to participate in Bitcoin betting games. Well, it depends on the country where you reside.

Though there is no reason to consider it illegal, some countries don't allow Bitcoin betting platforms in their territories. In nations like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, Bitcoin betting is not only accepted but actively encouraged by the government. On the other hand, in places like China, Egypt, and Qatar, crypto is completely banned.

In a major country like the US, they have adopted contradictory positions on cryptocurrency gaming. In the United States, Bitcoin gaming is not specifically regulated by law. While some states allow it, others ban it outright or have restrictive measures guiding it.

This implies that while Bitcoin gaming is not outright legal, it is not illegal either. Most legitimate sites for Bitcoin gaming will have their privacy policies and terms of service posted for you to read. This should put your mind at ease about using them.

What is Crypto Betting Earning Tax?

As mentioned earlier, to raise revenue for the government, every source of income is usually taxed. Therefore, crypto betting earnings tax is the amount of tax deducted from your winnings on Bitcoin betting platforms. 

Can the Government Tax My Crypto Betting Earnings?

Yes, the government can tax your crypto betting earnings. Normally, betting platforms that use fiat currencies are taxed. However, people expect a difference when they consider the anonymity and security of crypto. Still, you should be aware that even Bitcoin betting platforms are subject to tax.

The key idea you should note is that taxation depends on the country where you live. In countries where you get taxed, you'll usually get taxed at the standard betting rate. Using crypto doesn't necessarily affect the amount you'll be taxed when compared to using regular money.

Betting gains are not taxed in the majority of nations. Countries like Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Sweden, and the United Kingdom don't tax earnings. Note that there are a few exceptions to this rule, like when you bet for business purposes, for example. 

On the other hand, countries like China, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Spain, the USA, and Zimbabwe impose taxes on Bitcoin betting earnings. The amount you'll pay depends on the laws governing taxation in the country.

How Is Crypto Betting Taxed?

Federal and state tax rates for ordinary income range from 0% to 37%. This rate depends on how much money the winner makes from other sources.

In the US, for example, the payer will usually keep 24% of any betting profits from a U.S.-based business. This is an estimate, and you may owe more or less depending on your specific situation.

However, this is not a fee that will be deducted mechanically at Bitcoin casinos and betting sites. Wins from gaming should be included in “other income” on Schedule 1 of Form 1040.

Also, the value of your crypto holdings may go up when you sell them or trade them for fiat currency or another coin. In such cases, you must report and pay taxes on those gains as capital gains. Failure to do so will attract penalties.

What Calculations Do You Need to Make for Crypto Betting Earnings Taxation?

When you earn crypto, the system taxes you based on the crypto's monetary worth at the time you earned it. For example, Bitcoin earnings from betting are taxed at the rate at which they are received. So to calculate, know how much monetary value the crypto earnings have and deduct the necessary percentage.

When you sell or trade your Bitcoin gaming winnings, you make or lose money. The equation is based on the difference in value between when you got them and when you sold them. To figure out the capital gain (or loss), take the sale price and subtract it from the original investment price. The original investment price is the amount you paid to buy the asset, plus any additional costs.

Can I Write Off Crypto Betting Losses?

This part of the equation is more important than many individuals take it to be. Imagine paying taxes for the money you lost!

You can write off your Bitcoin betting losses up to the amount of your crypto profits. However, this is only applicable as long as those profits are greater than the standard deduction and any other allowed deductions. That is, you cannot deduct losses on bets from gains on investments or anything else you do for a living.

Conclusion

Many won't see reasons why cryptocurrency betting earnings should be taxed, but it's all for the betterment of the country. All you need to do is learn to calculate correctly so that the taxation doesn't run you dry. If you're in a country where the there's no taxation on Bitcoin betting, much better!