If George is not a professional gambler, how much of his gambling losses can he deduct?

For individuals who are not considered professional gamblers, the ability to deduct gambling losses is limited. Specifically, non-professional gamblers can only deduct losses to the extent of their gambling winnings. This means that if George has no winnings to offset against his losses, the amount he can deduct is zero.

In this case, if George is not a professional gambler, he cannot claim any gambling losses as a deduction beyond what he has won from gambling activities. Therefore, if he had no reported gambling winnings, he would not be allowed any deductions for his gambling losses, making the correct amount he can deduct $0.

This limitation is rooted in the IRS regulations regarding the treatment of gambling income and losses for individuals. Unlike professional gamblers, who can deduct all ordinary and necessary expenses related to their gambling activities, non-professional gamblers face this restriction that ties deductions directly to their winnings.