The Supreme Court of Canada says it will not review a finding that poker earnings are taxable business income.
The case began when three men appealed the federal revenue agency’s declaration that they had to pay tax on poker winnings.
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The three acquaintances argued in the Tax Court of Canada that the earnings — which often amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually — were not business income but rather non-taxable income from betting.
Following a joint hearing, a judge concluded their net earnings should be counted as taxable business income.
The judge said in each case, poker was much more than a pleasurable pursuit — it was a livelihood to which the players devoted almost all of their time.
The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed their appeals, prompting the men to seek a hearing at the Supreme Court.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2026.









