I won... but I didn't??

My fiancée and I both got scratchcard postcards from Horseshoe Council Bluffs that said "Mystery Instant Win Scratcher" and had a scratch-off area that said there was a guaranteed prize. There was no list of prizes, so I assumed it was mostly like prizes like $5 free slot play or a free hair scrunchie or something dumb like that. Add to that we live around 3 hours away from the casino in question, so I wasn't even considering going, so I scratched off the gold portion on my postcard.

I WON THE $1,000 CASH! It was the TOP prize they offered... but wait, crap. It says "In the Event any part is scratched off before presentation to a Team Member, prize may become void" DANG IT! :| I guess I'm just S.O.L. ... anyone have any ideas how/if I could get anything for this?

Also, anyone else out there gotten this postcard from TotalRewards? Did any of you win?

~Mica

You're probably screwed because you didn't follow the rules =/... but I guess maybe go to a total rewards desk (while waiting or something start "scratching" on your fiancee's back and then shout oh yeah I won! Perhaps they won't care if they think you scratched it "in front" of them in line... but you're probably screwed.

Yeah you could try what Romes said.

This isn't a scratch-off with multiple spots to scratch is it? If it is, then you're definitely out of luck. But if it's one spot, you MIGHT be given the benefit of the doubt. Especially if you act like you scratched off in line.

I'm guessing they don't want you to scratch it before you get there because they want to force you show up. Because if it was $5, would you have bothered going?

This is very silly that they would send you a scratch off that you have to wait to scratch off until you arrive at the casino! Who thought up this promotion. You are probably not the only one who scratched off. The average casino goer doesn't read rules either. Just show up with your scratched ticket. Don't try to be clever by faking a scratch off in line, that's not believable (you waited to get to the casino to scratch off, but you scratched in line instead of in front of the staff).

tring: no, only 1 place to scratch off. Yeah, it's because they want to force me to show up. Because who wants to spend $40 in gas and $100+ for hotel for $5 slot credit? :p

Avin: Strangely, I get these "no scratch until you are here" promos here a lot. Prolly because we are far away from the casinos here in the midwest. I think I will try the more honest route. Maybe even if I don't get the prize, maybe I can talk my way into a comp buffet or at least a new scratchcard. :)

Quote: MicaTurtle

... Maybe even if I don't get the prize, maybe I can talk my way into a comp buffet or at least a new scratchcard. :)

If you said anything about wanting a "buffet" and I was an employee I'd immediately get that for you... The overall thought being "Yep, as a casino we just invalidated another $1000 winner of our promotion. Giving the $20 buffet saved us $980."

If you're going to go the honest route I still wouldn't tell them you scratched it at home. Like others have said the idea is they're trying to make you make the decision to come before scratching. Say you were sitting at a table/machine and scratched it before reading the rules or something at least. I would honestly go in, play a machine, pull it out and "scratch it" on my lap then run up to TR all excited. Since there's only "one" spot I feel like you have an okay shot at getting paid. Don't settle for $20.

Quote: Romes

If you said anything about wanting a "buffet" and I was an employee I'd immediately get that for you... The overall thought being "Yep, as a casino we just invalidated another $1000 winner of our promotion. Giving the $20 buffet saved us $980."

More like saving them $998.99.

Quote: Romes

If you said anything about wanting a "buffet" and I was an employee I'd immediately get that for you... The overall thought being "Yep, as a casino we just invalidated another $1000 winner of our promotion. Giving the $20 buffet saved us $980."

sadly, I think I already "invalidated" it by scratching it at home. :\ And, according to their prize list, it's their ONLY $1,000 cash winner

Prize list:
21,000 Free Buffet
3,200 2,000 RCs
500 5,000 RCs
135 Gift
76 Gift
78 Gift
10 10,000 RCs
1 $1,000 cash

But yeah, I'm not going to tell them I scratched it at home, just that I didn't read the rules correctly and scratched it off early.

I am planning my trip down there for this weekend. I'll come back and let ya'll know how it goes.

Call a local printing shop ...see if they can recover the spot with scratch off stuff

it was done at a printing shop in the first place

Some offers are better than others
Simply said, simply meant.

Quote: MicaTurtle

but wait, crap. It says "In the Event any part is scratched off before presentation to a Team Member, prize may become void" DANG IT! :| I guess I'm just S.O.L

In future...

1. Read the fine print first.

2. Candling is a very useful technique. A 500 watt halogen work light (often available at home improvement stores or Harbor Freight) shining through the card (or envelope) can be extremely helpful to clue you in to if it's worthwhile to make the drive. This isn't always useful; some of these promos don't list the prizes won (but these also often don't restrict people from pre-scratching the cards).

For now, maybe they'll give you a reduced prize; maybe they'll give you the full prize, maybe they'll give you nothing.

I won $2000 on a pull tab at Silverton once

But, I didn't tear it off at the time of the event at the players club so I was SOL. It was a few days after and I wanted to know what I could have gotten :(

Just to nit-pick, if it says, "may become void" does not necessarily mean it is invalid. Probably you are out of luck, but, that wording MAY get you the cash. Good luck!

I get these scratch off mailers all the time from Mohegan Sun in Poconos,PA, 500 miles from home.
A single mailer has one scratch off each week for a month.Must scratch off at casino. I am not driving 500 miles for this promotion EVER.....
I keep them until after the mailer has expired, and then scratch them off. Largest prize I have had so far was $175.

"May" void it. If you're a big player, I'd say there's a decent chance you'll be able to get the $$$. If they say no, I'd put up a stink about it, but wouldn't go crazy about it. If you're a small player (or a jerk or stiff or owe money on your LOC), then probably won't get it.

It seems implausible to me that a promotion would inspire a player to go to the casino before scratching off the promotional prize area but then the player decides to scratch it off once inside the casino. According to the rule written on the mailer, it probably wouldn't matter whether you scratched it in another country or behind a Team Member's back. Just be honest about it. Heck, it's already on the Internet that the only $1000 scratch off winner at Horseshoe Council Bluffs was scratched off at home 300 miles away. I'd call them on the phone and find out whether or not the prize is still valid.