Gambling is a Business, Woman Proves in Court| Video Slots News> News Archive> 2006> May> Gambling is a Business, Woman Proves in Court |
25 May 2006
When asked what her job is, Estelle Busch could proudly answer that it is gambling. And not only will she not be lying, but she also has legal documentation to prove it. This gambling granny has made a profession of playing slot games and also has made a profession of loosing money too. She convinced that courts that she did not have to pay back thousands of dollars in cash because of her gambling losses.
State tax collectors in Minnesota charged Estelle Busch with owing more than $100,000 in back taxes on her winnings gambling at the slots. But the Minneapolis woman decided to one up the court and claimed gambling for her is a business and she should be able to deduct her losses of $200,000. After much deliberation and consultation, the Supreme Court agreed that although it was not a fully recognized business, gambling could be considered in this case as a business, and that she does not have to pay back the tax demanded from her.
Busch had stated gambling isn't fun for her, it's just plain hard work – she sometimes spends more than 60 hours a week at the gambling tables. State tax collectors tried to disagree by contending that the retiree had no particular skill and depended on luck to win. Luck or not, her gambling in this case paid off and she walked out the court house without needing to pay the taxes.
