New Jersey Lottery winnings from prize amounts exceeding $10,000 are taxable for New Jersey income tax purposes. The individual prize amount, not the total amount of New Jersey Lottery winnings over the year, determines taxability. Enter on Line 23 the amount of your net gambling winnings. You may deduct your gambling losses from your winnings that occurred during the same year. You may use New Jersey Lottery losses to offset other gambling winnings. If your net gambling winnings are less than zero, make no entry. You must be able to substantiate gambling losses used to offset winnings reported on your New Jersey income tax return. Evidence of losses may take several forms, including a daily log or journal of wins and losses, canceled checks, losing race track pari-mutuel tickets, losing lottery tickets, etc. With respect to winnings or losses resulting from casino gambling, letters from casinos which purport to “rate” the gambling activity of an individual or “estimate” losses are acceptable as part of the evidential material
required to prove losses. Remember, do not include any winnings from prizes in the amount of $10,000 or less from the New Jersey State Lottery. Although no specific rider to the New Jersey income tax return is required to substantiate gambling losses, it is suggested that if you enter gambling winnings of osses on Line 23 of the return, you should note the total winnings and total losses on a supporting schedule. This procedure may eliminate certain questions in the event the return is selected for audit.