Don't ask me to watch your money

I can't believe how many times a player next to me will ask me to watch their machine, WITH the money in it, while they go to the restroom. I'll watch your machine, but NOT the money. And I can't win. If I tell them to not leave any money, they'll get mad and say, "Well why do you think I asked you?" But I refuse. I tell them, "Look, take your ticket, leave your card in, tilt your chair against the machine, leave your jacket on the back, but DON'T leave your money." And they get mad like I am being rude. First off, they don't know me. I could just walk off with their money. I've seen it done MORE than once. Someone asks a person (a stranger) to watch their machine and when they come back it is gone. And now they look over at me like it was my fault. DON'T LEAVE YOUR MONEY!

Today some old man asked me, and I said fine, but don't leave your ticket. He asked me why do I think he asked in the first place, and got huffy. Look, I'm not stupid, I got the point, just take your ticket and go pee and I'll watch your machine for you. So now he sits there for a half hour, squirming, refusing to go. And I know the old guy has to go. He's shuffling in his seat, squirming, fidgeting, but won't leave and go to the restroom, I guess to teach me a lesson for being rude, who knows what's in an old man's mind. Finally he goes broke, gets up and shuffles to the restroom, fast. Tells me "thanks a lot" in the most sarcastic tone, like it's my fault he lost his money, and that he has a bladder problem. I can't win. I was just trying to give him helpful advice. Don't ever trust strangers in a casino. DUH! I mean, I'm not going to take his money, but he don't know that.

And if someone ELSE took his money, then it's going to involve me, and I'd just rather not be involved. I don't get it. Why are they so adverse to taking their ticket with them to the restroom? What is wrong with people? And this happens to me a lot. The first thing they say, "Hey mister, are you going to be here awhile?" Ah sheesh, yeah, I'm going to be here, but don't leave any money.

I have asked the question, "can you watch my stuff" for a couple minutes, as long as 30 minutes. This was fishing gear on the pier. In the casino, I ask the dealer. I don't play slots or VP or anything.

Unsolicited, unprofessional, advice from one dummy to the next ;
Take your freakin' money with you, dumbass!
I'm willing to watch your seat and tell hungry feathered predators that your seat is being held 'cause you just went to pee or something. I will not go all ninja on them if they try to sit down. You can address that situation when you return. Take your money, if you have any left, when you walk away from the damn bandit machine.

I flag down casino staff and they watch my machine. Then I tip them when I get back.

And if it wasn't important enough to do that, then it was not worth playing anyway.

In fact I'd much rather tip a floor person in that situation than having them expect a tip when I hit a jackpot.

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

I ask the dealer. I don't play slots or VP or anything.

Poker or a table game is a different story. Although I guess I should make a mental note of how much I'm leaving at the table, I must admit that I've never worried about leaving a poker table and I've put in thousands of hours in Gardena. Perhaps over the years I have been robbed, but it wasn't much. In the old days there were no dealers, and there was never an issue of leaving your chips for a short break.

Quote: rxwine

In fact I'd much rather tip a floor person in that situation than having them expect a tip when I hit a jackpot.

That's an excellent idea and I too will do that in the rare case I have to hit the ATM and I want to come back to that particular machine, probably because there is an individual progressive. And I always tip the girl, although I see many people do not.

That's what the chip girls are there for. I'm still amazed, and annoyed, at the people who ask me to watch their money and they don't even know me.

I have never been asked to watch anyone's money in a machine. I watch machines for people all the time but people take the money out first yeah, that's why the ticket system is so easy.

Now with my friend and I are playing I will leave the money in on occasion but even then, I bet one credit in order to lock the machine up before I go

Agreed. A few months ago a lady asked a regular to watch her slot with $600 in it. He was distracted talking to another regular, then a man played her machine, lost $200 and cashed out. By the time he was spotted, had $300 left playing before he was arrested.

Yes being responsible for someone with nothing to gain is irritating. They should just replace the ticket with a dollar and promptly return. Plus sometimes you wind up playing past your comfort zone because you're waiting.