Summary
Canada has the best tax laws in the world, when it comes to recreational gambling. Gambler’s best friend – who would’ve guessed? You don’t need to pay a cent in taxes, which makes winning jackpots much more satisfying and allows maximum returns when playing online. Winnings from a Canadian lottery such as Lotto Max or 649 are considered to be windfalls, and windfalls are not subject to tax. Even winnings from a sweepstake or lottery sponsored by a charitable organization are generally tax-free.
This Chapter discusses the tax treatment of various receipts, such as strike pay, gambling winnings, and forfeited deposits, which do not readily come within any of the more usual categories of income. Prizes from lottery schemes, pool system betting, and giveaway contests are also considered. The Chapter indicates whether and under what circumstances a particular type of receipt is to be included in calculating income for tax purposes.
This Chapter also discusses the income tax treatment of gains and losses of both a capital and non-capital nature resulting from theft or embezzlement from a business by strangers, employees, proprietors, and others.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issues income tax folios to provide a summary of technical interpretations and positions regarding certain provisions contained in income tax law. Due to their technical nature, folios are used primarily by tax specialists and other individuals who have an interest in tax matters. While each paragraph in a chapter of a folio may relate to provisions of the law in force at the time it was written (see the Application section), the information provided is not a substitute for the law. The reader should, therefore, consider the Chapter’s information in light of the relevant provisions of the law in force for the particular tax year being considered.
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The CRA may have published additional guidance and detailed filing instructions on matters discussed in this Chapter. See the CRA Forms and publications web page for this information and other topics that may be of interest.