One of the key parts of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was the expansion of who qualifies for unemployment benefits. Under the law, self-employed individuals, along with those who are unable to work remotely, can file for unemployment.
In Nevada, with casinos shuttered across the state since mid-March, some experts believe professional gamblers could be eligible for unemployment benefits. Economist Jason Reed, who teaches finance at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, told MarketWatch he believes the law allows them to file claims.
"If they can show their primary method of earning cannot be made up through teleworking, playing online, I think they will be pretty successful," Reed explained. "This is what the CARES act is designed to do, to catch all these people who would not have been caught with traditional unemployment insurance."
There may be one stumbling block for gamblers trying to file for unemployment in certain states. Online gambling. The gamblers would have to show they are unable to work remotely during the coronavirus pandemic, but if their state allows for online gaming, they may not be eligible for benefits because they would have the ability to work from home.
At least one professional poker player from Las Vegas says he is going to give it a try.
"We'll see. I'm going to give it a shot. It seems like a freeroll to me. Worst case, they say no," Chirs Konvalinka told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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