filed as a pro last year- do i have to this year?

[mo42nyy]

Last year I filed as a pro gambler. I set out this year intending to do the same thing but as we all know neteller went to [censored] in january thanks to our wonderful governtment. SO basically since then I made 1 trip to ac 1 to vegas and played probably less than 100 hours online since January due to 3 reasons:
1)Live poker bores me to tears
2)Online games are a lot worse than they were, i was never that good to begin with and its a pain to get money online
3)I won an asston of money in a tournament early in the year, reducing my motivation even further

I had no other income this year (other than interest) and one of the requirements from the irs is actively engaging gambling to be conisered a pro.


Am I supposed to file as a pro or recreationally?

[ilikeaces86_]

It would probably be close but since you have no other source of income ( not even a small one) they will prbly hound your ass to file as a pro.

[mo42nyy]

don't they generally make it difficult for people to file as a pro? (someone had to take them to court just to be able to do so which set the precedent)
They also say play has to be full time and constant.
Has anyone here filed as a pro and then switched back?
Im not trying to get away with anything I shouldnt be able to but it really doesnt seem like i would qualify as a pro this year under their own terms?