Overheard at VIP checkin

Are you in AC now?

Quote: EvenBob

Are you in AC now?

And so it begins.....

Quote: aceofspades

The gentleman in front of me at the VIP Services checkin at the Atlantic City hotel I frequent had the following conversation with the VIP checkin clerk:


Man: "I don't know how much I am going to be gambling this weekend"
Clerk: "Oh, why's that?"
Man: "Well, for some reason there has been an issue lately with my disability and food stamps and they have been coming in later than expected"
Clerk: <look of stunned disbelief>
Man: "Don't get me wrong, I am still going to play, just not as much as I normally do until the benefits get straightened out from Obama"


Is it just me or is there something wrong with a seemingly able-bodied man (yes, I know, could be a mental deficiency) talking about his disability checks and food stamps all the while holding the highest-level player's card and checking in at the VIP Services are of the hotel/casino? (Only players with casino hosts can use the check-in area so apparently he plays enough to have not only the highest-level players card but also a casino host)

Doesn't surprise me,
There was that case of a woman that won millions in the lottery, quit her job and applied for food stamps.

deleted

Hope and change baby!

Cash buy-ins for the exact amount of a disability check are common in casinos.
Sit at a table and see the people who buy in for a "strange" amount but one that takes place frequently especially near the beginning of the month. Most people might buy in for five hundred dollars or for six hundred dollars but anyone buying in for 540.00 has just cashed his disability check.

You think casinos don't notice this after a while.

The story given by the guy in front of you if true galls me.

All disability's for sure can't be seen such as terminal cancer or bad heart etc. If the person had di insurance I know some payments are over 10 thousand a month. Federal di, a person is supposed to be 100% disabled. Either temporary or permanent. We don't know the facts but potential disturbing for certain.

On the food stamps, [snap] that is supposed to be means tested and if that person is collecting is committing fraud, right in front of your eyes. That pisses me off.

The IRS has a tip line where fraudsters can be turned in and if the IRS collects you can get a percentage of the collections. I would like to see something like that where honest or even dishonest people could turn in cheaters for a reward. I'd turn them in in a second. I'd figure out how to use my speed dial.

People get all this hate going for anybody receiving any kind of aid when some are much more needy then the person that shows up in a BMW to get their assistance. Of course the people that get hurt the worst in these frauds are the people that need help the most. GRRRR

I think these mental disability's need to be looked at a lot more carefully. I've worked with "crazy" people forever. The crazy disability has been a career goal for many for a long time. These phony disability's piss me off to no end.

I watched an expose I think it was called the "wild and wonderful Wilsons?" of one of the Carolina's or Virginia. A big family well known in the county for trash behavior and drugs. In the show the dad figured out how to game the system and got all his kids on disability by the time they were 12 or so. The kids and all their friends went on about their lives, collecting checks and partying on. That level of insanity shouldn't be allowed to drive or own guns.

I met one guy who was very young, got Dx'd with depression and got a doctor to state fishing calmed him .... so he gets a disability check and spends his time fishing. Beats working for a living.

Don't disability claims get reevaluated every 3-5 years? If someone was really trying to game the system, wouldn't they get caught eventually or is it a case where once you are in, you are in for life?

Also remember reading stories about the homeless under the bridges of LV. I guess there are quite a few of them that get disability money but instead of using it for basic needs, they run right to the casinos with it and are back under the tunnels broke within a few hours, waiting until next month's payment.

Any chance the VIP was just joking? Even without disability and food stamps, it is not easy to get VIP access.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Any chance the VIP was just joking? Even without disability and food stamps, it is not easy to get VIP access.

No he proudly showed the clerk his EBT card (he did this as he spoke about it)

Is this a great country, or what?

These players that are on some form of disability actually live off of the fat of the casinos they frequent. Free food comps as well as room comps. YOu have to factor in the wins they get as well that carries them thru the month. I am currently on UIB if I did not have to care for an elderly parent I would be right there investing my UIB $$ and getting comped for it this living off of the casinos. I am a pro craps player as well as dabble in VP and all that has to be desired. I hustled the system recently that was when I was acually gainfully employed. Done for many years.

Quote: Perdition

Don't disability claims get reevaluated every 3-5 years? If someone was really trying to game the system, wouldn't they get caught eventually or is it a case where once you are in, you are in for life?

Also remember reading stories about the homeless under the bridges of LV. I guess there are quite a few of them that get disability money but instead of using it for basic needs, they run right to the casinos with it and are back under the tunnels broke within a few hours, waiting until next month's payment.

Quote: aceofspades

No he proudly showed the clerk his EBT card (he did this as he spoke about it)

Wow. People really have no shame sometimes. No one should be "proud" on food stamps. And if he does work at all, I'm sure it's all cash under the table BS.

So you made it to AC, then. Thank god, the schaden
from Obamacare is wearing thin.

Quote: petroglyph

I watched an expose I think it was called the "wild and wonderful Wilsons?" of one of the Carolina's or Virginia. A big family well known in the county for trash behavior and drugs. In the show the dad figured out how to game the system and got all his kids on disability by the time they were 12 or so. The kids and all their friends went on about their lives, collecting checks and partying on. That level of insanity shouldn't be allowed to drive or own guns.

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

Quote: JLA

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
http://www.wildandwonderfulwhites.com/

Nice catch there JLA!

That show was quite an eye opener. Have you watched it? What did you think?

It's been a number of years since I watched it but I remember being both amused and terrified by it. :-)

Quote: silicone

I am a pro craps player

Really?

A "professional" craps player?

What does THAT mean, exactly?

I ask because it implies you make a living at playing craps, which is basically IMPOSSIBLE with a negative expectation game.

Curious.

Any money that anyone gives me, a portion of it will be spent at the casino gambling. There isn't anything wrong with any of us doing that, whether "able-bodied" or disabled. We all have a certain amount of resources and we are all going to spend them the very best way we know how. Sometimes that means a hand of black jack or three team parlay. Other times it means buying different things. So long as it is what makes us happy, it's a good thing

Quote: Ayecarumba

Any chance the VIP was just joking? Even without disability and food stamps, it is not easy to get VIP access.

It's what I was thinking too.

I don't doubt that there are people who use their welfare and food stamp payments to gamble, but the way the original story was told makes me wonder if the high roller thought he was being funny? Yeah, you can pick up an EBT card too.

When I was a kid my Uncle -- never married bachelor -- liked to show people a photo of his pride and joy.

"Would you like to see my pride and joy," he would ask.
"Sure" people would say, expecting to see photos of his kids.
He took a wallet sized photo out of his wallet and the photo was of squeeze bottles of Pride and Joy.

When you have money you do whacky things.

years ago I printed up business cards that had my name, and under the name the line... "I'll call you."

Much of the money played in AC casinos is off the books money. From drug dealers to small business owners, so much is not reported we could end the deficit if people actually reported what they made.

Quote: AlanMendelson

It's what I was thinking too.

I don't doubt that there are people who use their welfare and food stamp payments to gamble, but the way the original story was told makes me wonder if the high roller thought he was being funny? Yeah, you can pick up an EBT card too.

Yes, you and the other member are correct. Just a "rich" guy trying to be funny, and/or hitting on the check in clerk. These types make me sick. Most real VIP's are calm cool and collected, not after some cheap sex with a hotel clerk and making jokes about the less fortunate. They(those making such jokes) wouldn't last a night on the real street.

I will have to disagree as he was indeed serious about it - but, only he knows the truth.

Quote: aceofspades

I will have to disagree as he was indeed serious about it - but, only he knows the truth.

If he was indeed serious, why would he tell about it? It doesn't impress anyone does it? It isn't going to be accepted as a reason why his time and action is lower than "normal"? Just asking.....

Quote: aceofspades

Only players with casino hosts can use the check-in area so apparently he plays enough to have not only the highest-level players card but also a casino host)[/size

And he has a casino host? Had to be a joke.

I once told a floor who was incessantly hounding me to get a players card that I couldn't because I was in the Witness Protection Program. I didn't hear another peep from that impressionable young man.

Quote: 1BB

I once told a floor who was incessantly hounding me to get a players card that I couldn't because I was in the Witness Protection Program.

That's a good one.

Back in the days when I was in the news business, and I would be shooting a news story in an office, I would usually make an announcement that went something like this:

"Hi. We're hear to do a story about this company and we are going to be taking some video. If anyone doesn't want to be on TV please let us know, and that includes anyone in a witness protection program."

I always got a chuckle from the folks in the room.

Quote: Perdition

Don't disability claims get reevaluated every 3-5 years? If someone was really trying to game the system, wouldn't they get caught eventually or is it a case where once you are in, you are in for life?

If you are speaking of social security disability , the answer is yes, there are CDR's (continuing disability reviews) periodically. If you are talking about private disability, workman's comp type thing I don't know. I know a little about ss disability because my housemate and business partner is on it.

How often you are reviewed is determined by your classification. There are 3 that I am aware of. Medical Improvement expected. Medical improvement possible. And medical improvement not expected. Either of the first two and your review occurs every 3 years and consists of the long form, which is basically the same as the initial application process. A multi-page questionaire. You also must submit medical evidence to support your claim and records of all doctors visits, so they can contact each doctor. In the event of insufficient medical evidence or doctors visits to support your claim, you will be required to be examined by a social security appointed doctor.

Now, in the third case, where improvement is not expected, which my partner went through just last month, you receive the 'short form', which is 6 questions, basically asking if your condition has improved, if you have worked, if you have changed address. It does not ask for medical evidence, nor even what doctors you have seen. It s my understanding this short form is not even read by a human unless the computer kicks it out because you have answered that something has changed. So basically, this third classification, which occurs every 5 or 7 years, IS an automatic renewal, unless you say your condition has improved. Right or wrong, that appears to be the way it is.

I am sure this response opens me up to talking about my friends case, but I am not going to do so. But I will say this, some of you have the attitude that your tax dollars should not be going to someone who wants to spend some of it at the casino. You should know that social security DOES not involve your tax dollars. Both social security retirement and disability are insurance programs. Unlike welfare, each social security recipient, whether retired or disability is based on what that person paid into the program and are not a set amount like welfare. So that money is the recipient's to do with as they please. After paying their bills, they can do what they like. It does get confusing because of SSI. SSI is not a social security program, but rather a welfare program which s run by social security. The people on SSI do not qualify for social security because they haven't paid enough or anything into the program, so they receive SSI, which is welfare. They all receive the same amount, whatever that us. If you want to have a problem with welfare folks spending your tax dollars...that seems fair.

I also want to mention this concept of someone looking 'able-bodied'. You can't always tell a persons condition and I am not talking about mental issues. Some folks have a window each day, that their condition managed by medication allows them to appear pretty 'normal'. Maybe its just a couple hours, maybe longer. Maybe it's only some days. Don't make the mistaken of looking at someone in a single moment of time and making a judgement like this without knowing all the facts. Now that's not to say that there aren't a sh*tload of folks out there abusing the system...there are. And personally, I think this admistration has blurred the line and is beginning to use the disability program as a welfare program, for which it was not intended. That is sad for those on the program because they have issues that prevent them from living a normal life.

Thank you for the explanation.