Session and per-wager are two ways to read a year.
Educational notes for people who bet on sports or trade event contracts. This page does not tell you what to file, which method to use, or what you owe.
Source: Publication 529 (12/2020), Miscellaneous Deductions. Header still Revised: December 2020. Page last reviewed 30-Apr-2026 on the live IRS page cited for this draft.
Publication 529 asks for the date and type of your specific wager or wagering activity, and the amount(s) you won or lost.
Published commentary names more than one way to count a year of wagers. This page names two common readings and adopts neither.
- Per wager: each bet is its own line.
- Per session: a sitting or a day is grouped.
This page does not tell you which reading to use on a return, and it does not compute a session total.
Educational notes, not tax advice.