Warnings - Taking Pictures in Casino's

Warnings - Taking Pictures in Casino's

Just the other day I had a grand opportunity to meet and chat with One of the Top Guys in the Casino Industry. That was Awesome! But not for good reasons.

I was informed about something I thought was Harmless, I took a Picture inside the Casino and Posted it on the forum not realizing the affect on Security and Privacy of the Casino. I would like to offer my deepest apologies for not realizing how important it is and removed the Picture.

DO NOT TAKE PICTURES in the Casino.

You post the strangest messages on here.

Do you always apologize to people on public forums? (They aren't even members here)

Particularly important is to obscure all background features that identify the casino or that depict actual persons not consenting to the photography. Casino personnel know that not all persons introduced as "wives" or "husbands" are actually spouses. Sometimes a player will arrive with a woman and a few days later the players real wife will arrive. Its up to the player to handle the logistics of such things but the casinos cooperate by not allowing photography of individuals and by not blinking an eye when they are introduced to the second "wife" in less than a week.

Please remember that in most cases a cocktail waitress will gladly pose with a player against a backdrop of a neutral wall or something, but that does not mean that you can photograph a waitress without her consent.

Most casinos do not allow photography since that is the safest rule for them to enforce and their gung-ho security guards are raring at the bit to pounce on someone who photographs the front entrance sign or some statue. The claims that slot machine graphics are copyrighted are just excuses to keep people from snapping photos. The machine owner would normally love the publicity but its difficult when the background depicts a man who is there with a hooker or something. The worst thing for a casino is when the person revealed in the background is a high roller, so casinos simply discourage all photography.

Quote: Beethoven9th

You post the strangest messages on here.

Do you always apologize to people on public forums? (They aren't even members here)

When the "Top Dog" of the Casino approaches you directly on the Casino floor and personally takes you aside to discus something of a concern... Ahhh YES!!!!!

you don't necessarily have to be a member to see posts.

Depends on the casino. For example, I've seen players take videos of the craps table at Paris. No one cared. And at the Cosmo, I saw a floor actually take a picture of a player & his friends for them.

Freedom of speech in public forums is one thing but please keep it Professional and try to respect the Casino's point of view.

Quote: varmenti

you don't necessarily have to be a member to see posts.

OK, then I apologize to the guy I accidentally bumped into at the store yesterday. Sorry, dude! lol...

Quote: varmenti

Freedom of speech in public forums is one thing but please keep it Professional and try to respect the Casino's point of view.

"Freedom of speech"? What the heck are you talking about?

Quote: varmenti

Warnings - Taking Pictures in Casino's

Just the other day I had a grand opportunity to meet and chat with One of the Top Guys in the Casino Industry.

None of the top guys in the casino industry work in OLG operated casinos in Ontario.

Quote: rdw4potus

None of the top guys in the casino industry work in OLG operated casinos in Ontario.

That was another humorous thing in his post. LOL

Quote: Beethoven9th

And at the Cosmo, I saw a floor actually take a picture of a player & his friends for them.

Sure, he was able to see if anyone was in the background or not. He is perfectly happy to snap a momento for them... he just doesn't want anyone snapping a momento for some poor guy in the background. A photo that focuses solely on the players and the table layout with some chips and some drinks visible... no problem! But it was the Floor who took it. He KNEW what was in the background. No big deal, particularly at the Cosmo which is a place for strutters and swells anyway.

Quote: rdw4potus

None of the top guys in the casino industry work in OLG operated casinos in Ontario.

Probably true but I think the guys in the OLG operated casinos would disagree... they think they are top notch guys! Or as they said in the movie: "From Lord Feisal in Lord Feisal's tent".

As an amateur photographer, freedom of photography is something I care about very strongly.

Very plainly, casinos are private businesses, and they don't need a reason to ban photography. They will say that it's for any reason that will get the photographer to stop arguing, but they don't need a reason.

What I've generally found is that they don't enforce the ban when it comes to taking photos of slot wins, or videos of jackpots. They don't mind photos of lobbies, or of interesting architecture. What they don't want is general photographs of people in casinos. I believe that is a valid request.

The laws in Canada may be different than those in the US; they certainly are different in Britain from the US. Generally speaking, in the US you can photograph anything that you can see from a public vantage point; if you are on public property, you can photograph anything you can see. You may not impede natural movement, ie, you can't just set up a tripod and start setting up lights. And you may not use a telephoto lens to start peeking through windows. However, you may stand on the sidewalk outside of the casino and photograph it to your heart's delight.

There are some restrictions regarding military installations, however the likelihood that you will come across those ordinarily is very improbable. However, there is nothing keeping you from taking photographs in a subway station, or in an airport. Those are public places. In fact, there is a well known case of Amtrak holding a photography contest, and an entrant was arrested and roughed up while taking photographs of trains entering and exiting a tunnel. He won a substantial judgement.

Quote: Beethoven9th

OK, then I apologize to the guy I accidentally bumped into at the store yesterday. Sorry, dude! lol...

I pulled out in front of somebody today. Sorry, man. (I feel a lot better now)

Quote: FleaStiff

Probably true but I think the guys in the OLG operated casinos would disagree... they think they are top notch guys! Or as they said in the movie: "From Lord Feisal in Lord Feisal's tent".

Please just take my word on that one, because I do not want to put out any names that may get me into trouble again.

Quote: Beethoven9th

You post the strangest messages on here.

Don't post up emails either. Those are automatically copyrighted.

Quote: varmenti

Let's just say it was on honor to get to meet the guy. (especially over a simple Picture)

You sound like a teenage girl talking about Justin Bieber...LOL!

The guy just manages a casino, nothing more. You act like he's royalty or something. Do you have to fan yourself when you talk to the guy who runs your local Denny's too? lol

Quote: varmenti

Please just take my word on that one, because I do not want to put out any names that may get me into trouble again.

Let's just say it was on honor to get to meet the guy. (especially over a simple Picture)

"Big Ed" Deline?

Quote: varmenti

Let's just say it was on honor to get to meet the guy. (especially over a simple Picture)

Maybe he heard how well known you are for beating bac.
Did you show him your wad of money? Snicker...

Quote: EvenBob

Maybe he heard how well known you are for beating bac.
Did you show him your wad of money? Snicker...

Perhaps we need an I'm sorry or a confessions thread.

I'm sorry to all the mothers of who's daughters I have Corrupted. Especially the the ones in which I have dated both

Quote: AxelWolf

Perhaps we need an I'm sorry or a confessions thread.

I'm sorry to all the mothers of who's daughters I have Corrupted. Especially the the ones in which I have dated both

OMG AxelWolf, Forget I said anything.

The thread says, Warnings - Taking Pictures in Casino's
Lets try to keep it in relation to that and try to keep members from making another soap opera thread.

It's pretty amazing that someone whose been a professional gambler for so long, and made millions while spending countless hours in casinos, just learned last week that taking pictures in casinos is a no-no.

Quote: rdw4potus

It's pretty amazing that someone whose been a professional gambler for so long, and made millions while spending countless hours in casinos, just learned last week that taking pictures in casinos is a no-no.

I'm flattered by the way you say "someone whose been a professional gambler for so long, and made millions". That's a whole new story that I may share in another thread someday. Back then we never had iPhone's to take pictures on a whim. Never even thought about it.

Quote: EvenBob

Maybe he heard how well known you are for beating bac.
Did you show him your wad of money? Snicker...

Let's just say it was on honor to get to meet the guy. (especially over a simple Picture)

Maybe it's more than that. Maybe he wanted to see "The Master" in action. There were about 4 Suits standing behind me watching me play my Partner system yesterday. My wife and I played from 11AM till 9:30 PM leaving our bankroll in Pocket and Playing all night with 700.00 casino profits.

Quote: AxelWolf

Perhaps we need an I'm sorry or a confessions thread.

I'm sorry to all the mothers of who's daughters I have Corrupted. Especially the the ones in which I have dated both

Finally, a chance to rid myself of all this pent-up shame. If you happened to be anywhere near the salad at Main Street last night, sorry about the SBD fart. (Is it possible to be both sorry and proud?)

Quote: Sabretom2

Finally, a chance to rid myself of all this pent-up shame. If you happened to be anywhere near the salad at Main Street last night, sorry about the SBD fart. (Is it possible to be both sorry and proud?)

That was funny!!!!

what's more funny is having my 50 wife as quiet as she is suddenly pop up from the table, looking and pointing to the scoreboard and tells the Baccarat dealer in a sarcastic way "I have better streaks on my underwear"

Last time I hit a Royal Flush at Harrah's Philadelphia, I took out my cell phone and was about to snap a quick pic when security walked up and warned me not to take pictures (something I've known ever since I walked into my first casino in AC some 16 years ago). I thanked her and explained that I just wanted a pic so I could send to my wife, who was at work. I put the cell back in my pocket and waited for the guard to leave. As soon as she was out of sight I took out my cell and snapped the dang picture anyway. I ain't apologizing for nuthing to nobody!! ha!

Quote: Pabo

Last time I hit a Royal Flush at Harrah's Philadelphia, I took out my cell phone and was about to snap a quick pic when security walked up and warned me not to take pictures (something I've known ever since I walked into my first casino in AC some 16 years ago). I thanked her and explained that I just wanted a pic so I could send to my wife, who was at work. I put the cell back in my pocket and waited for the guard to leave. As soon as she was out of sight I took out my cell and snapped the dang picture anyway. I ain't apologizing for nuthing to nobody!! ha!

One of the cooler things that Pressy can apparently do is a one-push snapshot or video start/stop. Makes the duration of a cellphone photo session much shorter.

Quote: rdw4potus

One of the cooler things that Pressy can apparently do is a one-push snapshot or video start/stop. Makes the duration of a cellphone photo session much shorter.

Cool. Thanks for the suggestion, red4potus. I'll look further into it. Looks interesting. I don't hit Royal Flushes that often (then again who does?), but it's always nice to have a picture when it does happen.

The answer is always "it depends." Cell phone photos are so easy to get away with these days it's laughable.

It's about discretion. If you're discrete in how you do it, and discrete in what you do with it, nobody really cares.

Even in a public place, taking photos of random people and using those photos to cause trouble is possibly legal, but again, discretion should always be used.

Have a sense of pride in what you do, I think, and many of these things just don't come up.

I have only been at two casinos with specific POSTED rules about photos:

At the Bicycle Casino in LA there are signs all over the place that say absolutely no photos of any kind. But when I won a tournament there, I had no problem handing the tournament director my cell phone to take pictures of me not only with the winning cards (you know, the typical mug shot) but also when we were heads up and playing.

At Harrah's Rincon in San Diego the signs at their doors say still photos are allowed, but video is not allowed.

But I have been told different things at different casinos and it seems rules vary. Some examples:

At Caesars, they don't mind photos as long as you take photos of people who agree to be in the photos -- such as your friends -- and as long as you are not standing at an actual table. By slots is never a problem. They also won't stop you from taking photos in the area outside the table games area under the dome in the Palace Casino at Caesars.

Caesars also allowed me to take shots of the craps layout when I had five fire bet numbers made. But at Rincon when I took photos of the layout with five fire bet numbers made they told me "no photos of the layouts."

When my son got a royal playing Mississippi Stud at Commerce the floor manager and the dealer posed with him at the table with the cards displayed.

At Hollywood Park Casino here in LA I've taken photos at the table when there is a bad beat jackpot (I've done this several times), and when I flopped a royal flush in a cash game.

Legally you are allowed to take photos until someone says "stop." As soon as someone says "stop" you must stop. If there is a sign that says "no photos" that is the same as someone saying "stop."

In my 40+ years in the news business we always shot our videos at businesses and news events without permission first -- but when someone said "get off our land" or "stop shooting" we got off their land and we stopped shooting. However, the only place where we did not shoot first was in those court rooms where there is a standing rule prohibiting photos. (In some courts, in some states, photos are allowed with restrictions.)

If someone were to ask me about taking photos in a casino I would offer this suggestion:

1. If it's a private photo such as you by a slot machine with a jackpot, take 'em till someone stops you.
2. If in a public area such as statues or check in or on the side of the casino floor, take 'em till someone stops you.
3. If at a table or in a gaming area with others "in the shot" ask first.... unless others are already taking photos and then it's a free for all. :-)
4. If you think you have been "wronged" at a table game and need photographic proof, or if you witness a crime, take the photo first and talk about it later.

You might see on my website that I have a page of the best casino restrooms. Obviously I am careful not to have anyone in the photos but I never asked permission first. And since I am showing "the best" casino restrooms no one has ever complained.

Sorry, duplicate post deleted,

Oh well, no pictures.
No biggie, I'll just switch the camera to video mode and I should be good to go.
There's a thread here the Wiz started about a video news report shot in a casino that he is interviewed in.

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/slots/15324-i-made-the-channel-15-news-in-phoenix/2/#post275074

I took a picture in a casino. I even asked for permission first. They had no problem with it. Here it is:

Great picture. How much??

Quote: AlanMendelson

Great picture. How much??

That's the tragedy - it's Texas Hold'em Bonus. The hand has already been paid - total of $40 in winnings. The same basic bet structure would have paid $5050 on an Ultimate Texas Hold'em table. IIRC, that heartbreak was the reason for posting the pic elsewhere originally.

One of my local tribal casinos actually encourage people to post pics to Instagram and tag the casino. If they like it they'll feature your pic. Times are changing and some casinos are keeping up while others aren't. I remember being in Vegas in about 1989 and my boss getting kicked out because he had a cell phone on him. It took casinos a while to catch up with that technology shift too.

It seems alot of Facebook Friends go gambling together from time to time and want to take snapshots at the tables. The casinos do like publicity as long as it doesn't involve photos of people whose spouses think they are somewhere else at the time.