Letting someone spin your button is just a plain bad idea.

Quote: BobDancer

I also went over what the "victim" should have done --- i.e. get the surveillance tapes saved immediately. If there is going to be a he said/she said dispute, the surveillance tapes could be useful. The actual victim sat on his hands for three weeks and did nothing but bemoan his fate. That was not a smart move.

The perpetrator will usually send an email or something that promises a generous settlement, meanwhile more time goes by and then the settlement evaporates. Its similar to a pickpocket calling a credit card owner claiming to be the Port Authority Police. By the time the credit card holder tires of the runaround, those cards have been missing for a week and he didn't call the card company about it.

As to chasing after the guy who pressed the button, its better to realize what dealers are trained to do: protect their chip tray. Running off to poke someone in the nose is a luxury the dealer does not have. The player has that luxury but it will likely be a very costly one.

Quote: Wizard

... my friend lost his money and the bum who tried to steal it was 86'd.

Who cares if the bum or drunk is banned, the player wants his money, not someone's wrist to be slapped.

In reality what the casino wants is a nice festive mood and for everyone to keep gambling rather than start gawking at some escalating event. That is why I do things like keep my chips tightly controlled and don't pick up an errant die. Its not my job to keep the game flowing smoothly, my job is to protect my money.

Quote: FleaStiff

Who cares if the bum or drunk is banned, the player wants his money, not someone's wrist to be slapped.

I agree with you. I'd be livid if someone stole my money and the casino manager just told me,"We banned the guy who stole your money, " and didn't give me back my money! What good does just banning the thief do for ME if I don't get my money back? I mean, it's nice that this guy won't be able to steal anymore money from FUTURE players but right now I'M the victim who wants my money back.

Quote: GWAE

Hmm good point. Ok so in this case I guess if he let her push the button then that is like giving her the money.

Now as mentioned if a random person walked up and pressed someone's button and won a jackpot, who should get the money? Based on law the person who pushed it gets the money, but by pushing it did they steal the money?

As I understand it, by pushing the button uninvited, they have stolen the stake money and should be awarded the winnings. If they then give the stake money back, they have a solid defense against the theft charge.
Not nice, not fair, but those would seem to be the absolute rules.
In the article, it would seem that the guy effectively said ' here you have this go on me' thus giving away the stake and the rights that went with it. Stupid move, in hindsight.

Quote: OnceDear

As I understand it, by pushing the button uninvited, they have stolen the stake money and should be awarded the winnings. If they then give the stake money back, they have a solid defense against the theft charge.
Not nice, not fair, but those would seem to be the absolute rules.
In the article, it would seem that the guy effectively said ' here you have this go on me' thus giving away the stake and the rights that went with it. Stupid move, in hindsight.

That's a pretty messed up rule. Some stranger walking aimlessly around the casino and presses the button on my machine for fun before I get a chance to and it hits a progressive, and the casino actually GIVES the stranger the progressive ? Oh hell no! I'd be getting a lawyer. Progressives are no joke, especially the BIG Progressives like the 8,000 Progressive on 88 Fortunes.

Quote: FleaStiff

Who cares if the bum or drunk is banned, the player wants his money, not someone's wrist to be slapped.

My friend got some of his money back, what the bum didn't lose. Personally, it would give me pleasure to see some justice come to the bum.