var json_comments = new Array("<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-20183160\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=38607\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-38607-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=38607\">Hoss</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2010/04/tax-tips-keep-your-lucky-winnings.html#comment-20183160\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2010-04-09T09:45:24-05:00\">April  9, 2010  9:45 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(20183160);\">Moderate</a> |</span>	<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://consumerist.com/mt-static/plugins/Moderate/moderate.js\"></script>	<script type=\"text/javascript\">		successMsg = \"\";	</script><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=20183160');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>If you have any concern about being audited, you should keep a written gambling log detailing the date of wagers, the venue, amount bet, type of wager, and wins and losses (or at least losses since in a track experiance you're not going to come home with the information on winnings). Keep the losing tickets or on-line detail. And where it says make sure \"your tickets don't have footprints on them\" -- take this seriously. An experienced auditor can spot someone that is simply getting tickets from others. In a race track situation, for example, a player generally stays in the same area and does not have tickets from the clubhouse, grandstand, upstairs and downstairs, etc., on the same day/time</p><p>Also note the \"Other Miscellaneous Deductions\" is different from the line for \"Certain Miscellanous Deductions\" The latter has a floor of 2% of AGI. Other Deductions has no floor, meaning 100% is deductable if you are eligible to itemize</p><p>I am not a tax expert. But I have been around a race track on occassion<br /></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(20183160, 'Hoss')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-20183206\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1512420\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1512420-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1512420\">GitEm$teveDave</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2010/04/tax-tips-keep-your-lucky-winnings.html#comment-20183206\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2010-04-09T10:00:36-05:00\">April  9, 2010 10:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(20183206);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=20183206');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Did I have to claim my labcoat?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(20183206, 'GitEm$teveDave')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-20183348\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1145716\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1145716\">ycnhgm</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2010/04/tax-tips-keep-your-lucky-winnings.html#comment-20183348\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2010-04-09T11:07:49-05:00\">April  9, 2010 11:07 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(20183348);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=20183348');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I assume gambling losses are tax deductible in order to encourage gambling?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(20183348, 'ycnhgm')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->									<div class=\"num-replies\">3 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-20183387\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1527363\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1527363-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1527363\">Captain Walker</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2010/04/tax-tips-keep-your-lucky-winnings.html#comment-20183387\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2010-04-09T11:21:55-05:00\">April  9, 2010 11:21 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(20183387);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=20183387');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Straight out gambling losses are not tax deductible, they are only deductible against your winnings.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(20183387, 'Captain Walker')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-20184299\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=218445\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=218445\">JollyJumjuck</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2010/04/tax-tips-keep-your-lucky-winnings.html#comment-20184299\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2010-04-09T16:50:53-05:00\">April  9, 2010  4:50 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(20184299);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=20184299');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>So if you're flat-out unlucky like me and never win a damned cent, you get slammed by the government as well? And audited, to boot!</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(20184299, 'JollyJumjuck')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-20183728\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=38607\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-38607-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=38607\">Hoss</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2010/04/tax-tips-keep-your-lucky-winnings.html#comment-20183728\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2010-04-09T13:03:23-05:00\">April  9, 2010  1:03 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(20183728);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=20183728');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Unless you're a professional gambler.   But if you have a repeated net loss you will be disqualified as a professional.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(20183728, 'Hoss')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","");