Found Casino Chip

I would have to say that I would always return a dropped ticket because that is a complete accident. In my estimation, leaving Credits in a slot machine is either deliberate or negligent, so I feel as though I have a right to what I find.

My theory is that, if you couldn't touch a machine that had money in it, certain rows would end up being WAAAYYYY backed up on weekends, and a casino employee would be there just running around cashing out tickets for money that the casino did NOT win. If the casino stated (and could prove) that all tickets cashed out by casino employees and kept by the casino went to charity or something, I wouldn't touch them.

Actually, there's an idea. Instead of cashing the tickets and playing, "Any Craps," when my bankroll is gone, maybe I'll cash out found money and donate it to charity instead...

Quote: Mission146

...leaving Credits in a slot machine is either deliberate or negligent, so I feel as though I have a right to what I find.

This happened to me just last night.

After spending a few hours in the poker room, I thought I'd run $20 through a Davinci Diamonds machine just to wind down. In this casino, there are 3 in a row and they're the only Davinci Diamonds in the whole place. They were all taken so I sat at a nearby machine to wait. In a couple minutes, two seats freed up at the same time (man and woman playing together), and I immediately got up to play one of them. As I sat and stuck in my player card at one, I noticed $2.70 (I thought) on the adjacent machine. I immediately hit the cash out button and grabbed the ticket and just 5 seconds later, an Asian man sat down at it. I started playing my machine wondering if the Asian guy had seen me (he was new, it was not his money). I still had the ticket in my hand so I glanced at it and saw for the first time it was actually $27.00, not $2.70. I debated whether to get up and cash it out right away, but decided to sit there and play a bit since I had waited for this seat. About a minute later, the woman who HAD been playing that machine came back and started scolding the Asian man for taking her seat, and her money. "Hey, I was sitting here. You're on my machine. That's my money you're playing..." and the asian guy never said a word to her or even looked up at her. He and I both jut looked straight ahead and kept playing as her voice get louder "Hey asshole! Are you kidding me? You're just gonna sit there and play my money? Didn't you notice there was money on here? Are you kidding me right now?? That's MY money!" and on and on for thirty seconds and the Asian guy never said anything to her. I finally looked up at her berating this poor guy and right then she put her hand on his shoulder/neck area in an aggressive manner to get his attention since yelling wasn't getting anywhere. Suddenly, I felt so bad for this little Asian guy to put up with her anger, that I quickly raised up my hand with the $27 ticket and handed it to her. Now she's noticing me for the first time, and said "oh, thanks". I told her "hey, you walked away, so....I was gonna keep it." She walked off, and the little Asian guy got up about a minute later, completely unresponsive to all the drama around him. I left in another 5 minutes or so with $40.

Security was never called, her boyfriend who had been playing with her before never came by to threaten me or anything. But I wondered later (still wondering actually), had I been quick about leaving the machine with the ticket, would security have gotten involved? Would they have a record of me who took it based on my player card? Would I have been barred?

I'm glad I returned it. It was only $27, not enough to sell my ethics for. And I wondered if the Asian guy even spoke English.

I would have definitely given it back in that situation, if she could answer with a close approximation as to the amount.

I will be honest and say that I've probably only played in ten (or less) casinos lifetime, but I've always called ahead and asked for the rules on such things because I like finding money, but I don't like finding trouble. I would just ask because it seems like it varies slightly from casino to casino.

They would know because of your player card, but I am not sure to what extent they would care. I'm not entirely sure they would even look up the information, though they could.

I would always give it back if someone was claiming it happened and had a general idea as to the amount, (Keep in mind that the lady might have actually seen you Ticket-Out without putting anything in, and was quick on her toes) but I see NO obligation to leave it in there. What would the time limit be? Could someone leave it in there for three days?

Quote: zippyboy

But I wondered later (still wondering actually), had I been quick about leaving the machine with the ticket, would security have gotten involved? Would they have a record of me who took it based on my player card? Would I have been barred?

Casinos vary, but typically they will have signs posted that they're "not responsible for credits left on machine". That being said, I've seen the results depend on who happens to be working, as well as the circumstances of the event.

In your scenario, since you "immediately jumped on the machine after they left", it could look from Surveillance's perspective that you seen the money there and "went after it". If the patrons made a fuss and it got reviewed, Security or Slots would probably approach and ask for it back. If you refused, they might have pressed the issue. If you still refused, they might have barred you. But again, it just depends. Some personnel hate babysitting grown people and would have just told them sorry about your luck, we're not responsible.

Typically, the higher the amount of the ticket and the less time it "sat", the harder the casino will work to get it back.

And just in case this causes a follow up question, yes, if you had just left the casino, your account would have been flagged and you would have been approached the next time you came in (provided the particular personnel handling it wanted to press the issue). In almost all cases, you'd just be asked to give it back, or if you were on your last dollars, to at least give back some. Barring usually only happens if it looked like you were purposely preying on people, or if it was a lot of money and you completely refused to give back anything.

Quote: Face

And just in case this causes a follow up question, yes, if you had just left the casino, your account would have been flagged and you would have been approached the next time you came in (provided the particular personnel handling it wanted to press the issue). In almost all cases, you'd just be asked to give it back, ...

Something like this happened to me at Planet Hollywood last year. I almost hesitate to tell the story since I prolly already have a rep here as an opinionated, unethical d-bag, but whattheheck, I will anyway.

mid-2011, nighttime, Planet Hollywood, I took my paltry ~$20 ticket from VP to the self-serve kiosk to redeem for cash (the one under the escalator going up) and there was a line. Guy at the front was having trouble with it of some sort, and left muttering something to himself. Next guy in line also had some trouble, banged it on the side, and left muttering something about it being broken. Next guy just left without putting in his ticket, leaving only me standing there. I thought it looked fine and stuck in my $20 ticket, and the kiosk dispensed over $100 back to me. I stuck the cash in my pocket and shuffled off with my head down and left the casino right away.

I didn't go back to PH for two weeks, but I was worried about ever playing poker in a Caesars property room again. I'm a Diamond member, and realize if I ever sit down at any CET poker table, I'm stuck there a few hours, so once the dealer swipes my card at the table, I figured I could feel a tap on my shoulder 10 minutes later and a "please accompany us to the backroom", but it never happened. Getting barred from all CET properties would be horrible as a Diamond member.

Zippyboy,

I misread your post, sorry about that.

With all due respect, I would have given it back much faster than that. You actually saw her leave the machine, so you knew it was hers. I'm not saying that you are necessarily under an obligation to do so, that's for you to decide.

Quote: JimMorrison

What casinos are those? $5k chips draw attention at every casino I know of. And majority of the time you will have difficulty cashing them. But that doesn't mean cashier will always seize the chip regardless of what Bob says. Although it has happened before.

I've seen $5k chips cashed at Bellagio without the cashier giving the player so much as a glance. But then, Bellagio is the only casino I know of that has $25K chips in the bank at craps.

Next time I find a $5k chip (LOL) I'll try it and report back to you. (LOL)

Quote: AlanMendelson

I've seen $5k chips cashed at Bellagio without the cashier giving the player so much as a glance. But then, Bellagio is the only casino I know of that has $25K chips in the bank at craps.

Next time I find a $5k chip (LOL) I'll try it and report back to you. (LOL)

I'm sure the cashier knew the player because I know of cases where the B has confiscated chips. Most notably the case with Nolan Dalla a few years ago.

Quote: zippyboy

mid-2011, nighttime, Planet Hollywood, I took my paltry ~$20 ticket from VP to the self-serve kiosk to redeem for cash (the one under the escalator going up) and there was a line. Guy at the front was having trouble with it of some sort, and left muttering something to himself. Next guy in line also had some trouble, banged it on the side, and left muttering something about it being broken. Next guy just left without putting in his ticket, leaving only me standing there. I thought it looked fine and stuck in my $20 ticket, and the kiosk dispensed over $100 back to me. I stuck the cash in my pocket and shuffled off with my head down and left the casino right away.

You're even more lucky for this one. Since the "loss" was the fault of the casino (faulty kiosk), they'd typically go to some length to make it better, provided the people in front of you reported it. The kiosk would say the tickets had been redeemed, the people would say they weren't, so Surv would be contacted for a review. Surv would see the people insert tickets and leave with nothing, and you leave with something right after. I'm kind of surprised nothing happened. Perhaps they didn't report it, or maybe Surv couldn't determine anything.

Quote: zippyboy

I didn't go back to PH for two weeks, but I was worried about ever playing poker in a Caesars property room again...Getting barred from all CET properties would be horrible as a Diamond member.

I don't think you'd get immediately barred, provided you paid it back when approached, and as long as you weren't purposely going after loose or abandoned tickets. Of course, there's always the hard-ass personnel that want to ban everyone, so you run the risk. Be careful out there (and stop it, I HATE those kind of reviews ;))

Quote: zippyboy

but I was worried about ever playing poker in a Caesars property room again. I'm a Diamond member,

Wow, you must have really needed that hundred
bad to jeopardize your standing with Ceasars.

I look forward to your posts, its one of the reasons
I stay here..

Why exactly would I lie about it? Just to ask a question? Doesn't make sense. Now I am a liar and a thief? Sad......

I found a $5 bill on the casino floor today. I kept it.
It never occurred to me to turn it in. Am I evil?

I'll refer to you as EvilBob. Has a nice ring

Quote: EvenBob

I found a $5 bill on the casino floor today. I kept it.
It never occurred to me to turn it in. Am I evil?

Late one night about two weeks ago, I purchased gas at a self-serve mega-station in S.C. When I finished pumping the gas, I was ticked off that the pump wouldn't give me a credit card receipt -- "See attendant for receipt." I figured it was one of those places that makes most everyone come inside in the hope/expectation that you will spend a little more on something if they can draw you in. Really annoyed me.

As I walked across the broken asphalt lot to the door, I spied a grimy, 4-folded, $5 bill on the ground. Yep, I'm just as evil as Bob, I guess. Kept the five bucks, but I wasn't quite so ornery toward the clerk as I might have been otherwise.

A couple of weeks ago I parked my car outside a convenience store. As I got out of the car I saw a $20 bill at my feet. I picked it up. It was a nice day.

Quote: EvenBob

I found a $5 bill on the casino floor today. I kept it.
It never occurred to me to turn it in. Am I evil?

Does it have a picture on it? I lost one with my picture on it. I look like Abe Lincoln.

Interesting thread.

re: 5K chip. Guess I'm not surprised they track that chip and warn each other one's coming in/not expected. The surprise to me is that they wouldn't know one was outstanding/lost; seems like that would be a rare event. I had not seen it before, but on the Victory (boat out of Florida) a month ago, I had a fun run at UTH where I got up to 700 in red in front of me and the pit boss insisted I cash some in rather than having to fill the tray. (Tried not to care, but felt like bad karma.) Anyway, I colored up 500 for a purple, which they called both upstairs and the cage to notify them; I ratholed it and took it to the cage later, where again they verified I had a right to it. I was kind of surprised they fussed about it that much, but I'm sure there are things I don't know (like maybe they've got somebody counterfeiting their purples). In that light, I can easily see they want to trace the 5K in the thread here; just wondering why they wouldn't already know it was out there.

re: TITO. Do they not have the interest/capability of tying a player card to the TITO in the bar code? Seems like it could help a lot in tracking down disputed money or found tickets. Just curious why they wouldn't, though I certainly wouldn't want to see any player info in plain type on the ticket. Does the downside of doing this outweigh the benefits of being able to trace a dispute?

If you see someone drop the money, but sneakily take it when they leave, you're a DB, but if it is just sitting there, different story and no problem.

On the 5K chip, I've never bought the casino's story as to be anything else but an excuse to not pay. The chip is stated to be worth $5,000, so why not pay its value because there are many ways to obtain the chips. Someone may have wanted to throw it on the floor for whomever found it perhaps. I suspect the possibility the chip may be counterfeit as well, but it's up to the casino to prove it IMO.

Apparently the chips aren't legal tender, but you have to consider the motive to set the rules this way-to not pay up. It's the same category as grocery stores being prohibited from discounting milk, eggs and cigarettes-laws passed to benefit them at their request making them seem innocent.

Quote: Paigowdan

Yes, true.
I was talking about the general population. Casino workers (slots, pit, and cage) are neutral referees who manage gambling games, table games, and slot machines, and see comparitively huge sums of money and chips with total neutrality towards it; we are frequently amazed by some members of the general public. The basic premise of "take what is rightfully yours, and return what isn't yours" has a very weak basis with a lot of people. Sad but true.

How often do casinos not keep the money from uncashed tickets? Almost always unless there is a law regarding it. They don't go give it to the blind.

I found a $100 chip at the Stratosphere at 5:00am one time. I asked the nearest security guard "if I find a casino chip on the floor, it's finders keepers, right?" His response was, "yes, unless you work here." I went straight to the cashier and cashed it. If it was any more than that, I would have turned it in.

He must have been really lazy. I'm pretty sure it is not finders keepers haha

This thread makes me mad. It is NOT finders keepers if you find chips, turn them in!

I lost a little wallet that contained a couple of lucky $100. chips I maintain and the finder turned them in got them back.

Also a friend of mine recently lost more than one flag ($5000. chips). I can't get into the details as the investigation is pending, but from the way he relates the story, it was the casino's fault that they were stolen from him. He tells me that the casino is reimbursing him for the entire loss, which tells me that they must have (1) traced the chips (the win) to him, and (2) been able to either deactivate or determine that the chips had not been cashed.