Las Vegas - A Nevada union says a deal between casinos and the Internal Revenue Service to reduce reporting requirements for tip income doesn't go far enough for casino workers given a bad economy. The Culinary Union, representing roughly 60,000 service workers, says tips are down 50 percent as visitors spend less time and money in Las Vegas, making workers unhappy with IRS withholding requirements.

The Internal Revenue Service has seized over USD 24 million from two companies that were processing payments for an Internet gambling site, Bodog. The seizures, detailed in recently released court documents, included USD 14.2 million from JBL Services in January and February, and USD 9.87 million from ZipPayments in early July. However, Bodog, more recently known as Bodoglife, continues to operate and process payments.

I think I've heard more tales of big wins from Jean Scott and her husband Brad than from anyone I know. Big tournament wins, big video poker hands, even a BIG stuffed gorilla they once won in a promotional drawing. The latest big one came in late November, when Brad hit the button a quarter Hundred Play video poker machine, and up popped, in order, Ace-10-Jack-King-Queen of hearts.

Here's a year-end heart-warmer for gamblers: You really do need to pay taxes on your winnings, whether you won USD 10 or USD 1,000, and a pair of experts have come out with a book to explain it all. And no, their initials are not IRS. Las Vegas tax adviser Marissa Chien's book, "Tax Help for Gamblers," co-written by gambling book author Jean Scott, just might be one of the biggest revelations about gambling in years.