papazoid Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 The feds sent a hearty bah-humbug to participants and organizers of a large NFL survivor pool this week, according to emails obtained by The Linemakers on Sporting News. The alleged pool organizer sent an email to participants Wednesday, saying: “I had a nice little visit from the IRS tonight.... They have shut down the Pool and seized the money... There will be no payout this year and as of now, all money is in the hands of the Federal Government... I apologize for this but there is absolutely nothing I can do...” http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/nfl/2012-12-20/federal-government-shuts-down-nfl-survivor-pool-irs-seizes-money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 A buddy of mine has been in similar pools like that for years. I liked the 10% to charity thingy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todzilla Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Thats why you shouldn't mention entry fees and winnings on the website message boards you play on. Especially with a prize this big. That said, what a shame, if you are one of the 20 left, you would be so ticked off. Still seems silly that you can go to Vegas and bet anything you want on a single game and then this gets shut down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristocrat Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 At least it was only 100 bucks each in and not like a 10k entry fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thisistheyear Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 (edited) I may not, and often don't, have any idea what I'm talking about. However, I always thought that pools like these were in the clear as long as there was no house taking a percentage of the fees. I wonder if the portion being donated to charity is what red flagged this? Edited December 20, 2012 by Thisistheyear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Scam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Scam? My first thought as well, but seems like they got confirmation according to the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 (edited) Has Jeff Probst been notified? Edited December 20, 2012 by jr1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caveman Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Thats why you shouldn't mention entry fees and winnings on the website message boards you play on. Especially with a prize this big. That said, what a shame, if you are one of the 20 left, you would be so ticked off. Still seems silly that you can go to Vegas and bet anything you want on a single game and then this gets shut down. Having 200,000 extra dollars in the bank is probably red flag enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 I may not, and often don't, have any idea what I'm talking about. However, I always thought that pools like these were in the clear as long as there was no house taking a percentage of the fees. I wonder if the portion being donated to charity is what red flagged this? Why would gambling on sports be legal? I think an individual that likely doesn't normally have 200K suddenly obtain a bank account with 200K be a huge red flag. Irs "how did you get 200K?" Moron "oh its just a friendly little NFL survival pool. That's legal right?" IRS "give me that money dumbass." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ny33 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 (edited) Why are ESPN and various other websites allowed to do this legally? The double-standard from our lovely government is insane. Edited December 20, 2012 by ny33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badasss Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Why are ESPN and various other websites allowed to do this legally? The double-standard from our lovely government is insane. Probably because the winner of the ESPN pool is issued a Form W-2G at the end of the yr, which requires the recipient to pay taxes on his earnings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todzilla Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 What if you win something like this and then declare the winnings as gambling earnings, similar to winning a slot machine jackpot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 What if you win something like this and then declare the winnings as gambling earnings, similar to winning a slot machine jackpot? Still needs to be reported and taxes paid.... http://www.irs.gov/t...pics/tc419.html Side Note: I've recently started working at a NY Lottery run casino. Since the state is involved, if you win a jackpot, they check to see if you have any back taxes, court fees, etc before paying you what you won. The story I heard is one night someone won several thousand dollars on a slot machine. They run his ID and find he was behind on his child support payments. Which was news to the "girlfriend" that was with him that night, that didn't even know he had a child, or a wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Has Jeff Probst been notified? Nicely played sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumbalaya Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 The feds sent a hearty bah-humbug to participants and organizers of a large NFL survivor pool this week, according to emails obtained by The Linemakers on Sporting News. The alleged pool organizer sent an email to participants Wednesday, saying: “I had a nice little visit from the IRS tonight.... They have shut down the Pool and seized the money... There will be no payout this year and as of now, all money is in the hands of the Federal Government... I apologize for this but there is absolutely nothing I can do...” http://linemakers.sp...rs-seizes-money Time to set this up off-shore. Costa Rica or bust! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 No lotto winnings for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlbillsfan1975 Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Still needs to be reported and taxes paid.... http://www.irs.gov/t...pics/tc419.html Side Note: I've recently started working at a NY Lottery run casino. Since the state is involved, if you win a jackpot, they check to see if you have any back taxes, court fees, etc before paying you what you won. The story I heard is one night someone won several thousand dollars on a slot machine. They run his ID and find he was behind on his child support payments. Which was news to the "girlfriend" that was with him that night, that didn't even know he had a child, or a wife. Exactly. If you claim the winnings and pay taxes on them then you are a lot less likely to get in big trouble. Not saying it is exactly legal, but if the government gets its money they will sometimes look the other way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I may not, and often don't, have any idea what I'm talking about. However... This made me laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST MODE BABY! Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 THought this was a pool in my area. Good thing it wasn't. That pool has 2700 entires...so if there's only one left, they get $270,000. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2o Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Probably because the winner of the ESPN pool is issued a Form W-2G at the end of the yr, which requires the recipient to pay taxes on his earnings. Rest assured that the Guvment is getting their cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 The feds sent a hearty bah-humbug to participants and organizers of a large NFL survivor pool this week, according to emails obtained by The Linemakers on Sporting News. The alleged pool organizer sent an email to participants Wednesday, saying: “I had a nice little visit from the IRS tonight.... They have shut down the Pool and seized the money... There will be no payout this year and as of now, all money is in the hands of the Federal Government... I apologize for this but there is absolutely nothing I can do...” http://linemakers.sp...rs-seizes-money Leave it to the government to take what is not theirs, nothing but legal mafia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpan Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Silly silly subjects, don't you know gambling can only be legal if the government makes all the money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caveman Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Probably because the winner of the ESPN pool is issued a Form W-2G at the end of the yr, which requires the recipient to pay taxes on his earnings. I could be mistaken, but I believe the other differentiating factor is that you don't pay to enter ESPN's pool, therefore, it is seen as a contest, and not any form of gambling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EasternOHBillsFan Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 The feds sent a hearty bah-humbug to participants and organizers of a large NFL survivor pool this week, according to emails obtained by The Linemakers on Sporting News. The alleged pool organizer sent an email to participants Wednesday, saying: “I had a nice little visit from the IRS tonight.... They have shut down the Pool and seized the money... There will be no payout this year and as of now, all money is in the hands of the Federal Government... I apologize for this but there is absolutely nothing I can do...” http://linemakers.sp...rs-seizes-money They shut this down, but still allow pot smokers in Colorado and Washington to go unmolested?!?! Priorities=SO out of whack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLynchTrain Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I may not, and often don't, have any idea what I'm talking about. However, I always thought that pools like these were in the clear as long as there was no house taking a percentage of the fees. I wonder if the portion being donated to charity is what red flagged this? That, right there, is the kicker. It sounds like they were taking their cut, which is illegal. As long as the house isn't profiting, it isn't illegal. The government can't do anything about your Super Bowl number pools, as long as the house isn't taking it's share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T master Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Thats why you shouldn't mention entry fees and winnings on the website message boards you play on. Especially with a prize this big. That said, what a shame, if you are one of the 20 left, you would be so ticked off. Still seems silly that you can go to Vegas and bet anything you want on a single game and then this gets shut down. That's our gov't for you , as long as it fits their agenda it's OK but if they can't get their grubby hands in on the deal they take it ALL !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just in Atlanta Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 We're serfs. !@#$ing ridiculous the IRS would waste their time with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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