Deadbeats can’t win.
Gamblers known to be delinquent on taxes and child support are getting busted as losers when they try to collect their winnings at the Aqueduct and other racinos, The Post has learned.
The state last year confiscated $12.6 million combined from deadbeats who won cash prizes from racinos or traditional lottery games — with more than half coming from the racinos, records show.
State law requires that betting parlors do a background check on anyone who wins more than $600 when they try to collect their winnings, running a Social Security number through a government database.
And if they owe back taxes, child support or even receive welfare payments, the house is required to deduct what’s owed to pay off the debt or apply it toward the cost of their benefits.
Last year’s haul was a 19 percent increase over the $10.6 million collected from deadbeats in 2011 and a 163 percent increase over the $4.8 million retrieved in 2010, according to figures obtained from the New York State Gaming Commission.
The report shows the majority of deadbeats are getting nabbed at Aqueduct Resorts World, Yonkers Empire City and other racinos.
Of the 17,672 winning gamblers forced to forfeit a portion or all of their winnings, 11,414 were from the racetrack casinos, records show. Racino gamblers accounted for $6.9 million of the $12.6 million recouped last year, records showed.
“If there is a match, the applicable funds are automatically withheld and transferred from the Gaming Commission to the appropriate agency,” the commission said.
That’s a rude awakening for delinquents expecting to cash in hundreds or thousands of dollars in winning bets from slot machines and electronic table games or Lotto and other lottery games.
A community activist who keeps an eye on Resorts World said she hasn’t he
ard of any security incidents involving deadbeats. That’s because they’re not in a position to complain.
“Gamblers who are deadbeats aren’t screaming about this from the rooftop. They should be embarrassed,” said Community Board Chair Betty Bratton.
“They’re certainly getting no sympathy from me. I pay more taxes because they didn’t pay theirs,” she added.