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In many states amateurs are taxed for every session they win, but they aren't allowed to deduct losing sessions from their taxes.

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This isn't entirely true is it? I thought I read frequently that you may deduct your loses, but the problem is that you have to itemize them and can no longer take the standard deduction. Am I off here?

This is my first year of serious poker and I haven't done this before so I would like to know.

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Unfortunately it's true in Massachusetts, and I believe many other states as well. You must report all gambling winnings, but you aren't allowed to claim any gambling losses. This law is one of the main reasons I moved from Massachusetts, because at the time I was an amateur and the taxes would have come close to outgrossing my overall winnings.