Lost Slot Ticket - Would This Have been Handled Differently in Vegas?

Today I was playing slots at a Mid-Atlantic area casino and accidentally walked away from the machine without taking my ticket (it was not huge, but over $100). I made it like 30 feet from the machine before realizing my mistake, literally sprinted back to the machine, but of course the machine had been zeroed out. I immediately alerted the casino staff to what had happened, but was already accepting the fact that I'd probably lost my money. Since the machines were TITO, the casino could see how much I had cashed out at and see the ticket had been already redeemed (which is actually more information than I expected them to provide). The floor manager said "Sorry" and walked off and made no effort to do anything else about it whatsoever.

Obviously, this is the casino's operating policy, and you agree to it the moment you place a bet anywhere on their property. If this had happened in AC or LV though, would the casino have treated it differently? Looking back, the ticket was probably cashed out between the time I first alerted a cashier and the time the floor manager looked into it, and casinos give out free slot play like candy anyway. Had they made any gesture to say they sympathized and wanted me to enjoy the rest of my day (free slot play, lunch comp, etc) I would have stayed, but that ended my day and I probably won't return, given their high table limits. I'm just curious if I could have expected this anywhere or it's also due to the fact the casino has no competition for over 100 miles around it.

Quote: silversonic2006

... the casino could see how much I had cashed out at and see the ticket had been already redeemed (which is actually more information than I expected them to provide). The floor manager said "Sorry" and walked off and made no effort to do anything else about it whatsoever.

Considering how often you see reminders to not leave credits on machines, I'm surprised they did that much.

Then again, if they were able to do it faster, they could have cancelled the TITO ticket before it was cashed, and gotten you your money.

But, since they couldn't do that, why do you expect them to do anything for you? Do they owe you anything? Were they responsible for your error?

Taking someone else's ticket out of a machine is the same as grabbing their coins out of the hopper. It is unfortunate that they did not reimburse you, or try to track down the nogoodnik with their security footage.

I'm not mad at the floor manager's ruling; I didn't expect them to do anything. I fully accept that if the casino wants to say "Sorry, tough luck" in a situation like mine, then that's their choice to make and as a casino guest, I accept that ruling when I play there. I'm just curious to know if a casino in a more competitive market would have done anything else for a guest. Sounds like the answer is probably not.

It's called customer service. But with no competition with 100 miles some managers have no skills.Doubt that jerk even alerted security to look out for the thief in case he is a regular or returns again. Did they take any sort of statement from you ?, save the tape, offer any sort of comp? IDIOTS !

In Vegas I think they would have treated it like a lost sports ticket. First they would have voided the ticket, if it had not been cashed yet, which it probably would have been by the time they found a slot tech. If you were lucky and it hadn't been cashed then then you would have had to wait until the expiration period had expired to get your money.

Thank you for the info, Wizard. I appreciate it.

Well, I'm tempted to say 'serves you right for being foolish enough to play a slot machine in the first place'. However, we've all done such things. Usually its not for over a hundred, usually its for less than 20.00. However, the casino is the one with the cameras and for that amount of money should probably have done more.

Main lesson: Hit the darned CashOut button ... and do it at a different casino.

Believe me, I will.

I think I'll stick at AC/LV from here on out for my gaming. Granted, AC is going through some tough times right now, but I feel like they try harder with their players in general, especially the Tropicana. I'm a $10 or less tables player (I don't even like $15) and wager at most about $1.00 a pull at slots, and the Trop has not only comped my room the last 3-4 times I've stayed, they've usually upgraded my room from what I reserved (including suites).

I just feel like AC really tries to make players feel welcome, and that effort is missing from the new casinos in WV/DE/PA that have cropped up. It gives me hope AC will pull through the recession and thrive.

I remember when AC opened. Merv Griffin's Resort casino I believe was the first one. $10 admission charge first few months.

It probably is a function of the recession that they're extending their hand to players more than they used to. Interestingly enough, the old President riverboat casino in St. Louis also charged an admission fee ($5 I think, but they waived it once you got a slot card). Shady, shady place with mean dealers.

My wife and I were at Resorts that weekend in 1978. It was the day before Memorial Day and the lines were quite long as people spent multiple nights waiting on the Boardwalk as well as the side entrances for the casino to open. We've spent many nights at Resorts over the years, but I don't remember the $10 admission charge early on. I do remember pre-buying buffet tickets which got you into a shorter line.

Merv didn't become involved until about ten years later. He was very visible on the property and we ran into him several times. He always had a sincere hello and handshake for everyone.

I'll be damned.

Terrible customer service. I would think, like you, that so many things are given away that some sort of recoupment, even if less than your $100, would be possible and may well have saved themselves a customer.

My place tracks down anything over $20. In your case (what, 30 sec away?) the ticket would have been immediately canceled and redrafted. Had it been already redeemed as yours had, we would have backtracked you until we seen the ticket, ID'ed the patron who took it, and approached them in an attempt to get them to pay restitution. Hell, we even do that on our own if someone drops money. L/F cash gets called up and we begin the search, often returning it before the patron even knows they lost anything. Of course there is no legal option (we also have signs that say 'lost ticket, not our fault') but most people are either relatively honest (presume it to be like a dropped bill and are willing to return it to the owner) or feel guilty and pay it back. If we could pretty much assume the patron KNEW it was yours (which with such a short time leads me to believe someone saw you print and leave it) then we may have a legal option and usually the possibility of theft charges greases the wheel and gets your money back easier.

No offense to you, but I HATE these incidents (really, no offense intended =)). Personally, I grew up to watch my stuff lest it go missing. Losing money is payment for the lesson I just learned. Also, because of my job, I find it an extreme hassle to have to babysit adults when I have many more important things to get done, and in an incident like this the work usually far exceeds any sort of value of the result. HOWEVER, I will say I am biased and this is not directed at you because your situation isn't the typical one I have such a beef against. Usually, someone loses a ticket, notices it 20-30 minutes later, waits another 60 minutes because they can't pull themselves off of Pot 'OPennies or some such nonsense, THEN they report it and turn a 5 minute search into a 2 hour wild goose chase that always ends the same way; the guy who took it left the casino. Once Slots are notified, they come back with 'Meh, it was only $32, the patrons not all that upset" ><! In your case, you can bet we would have found it, and in such a short time span there should have been no reason to not attempt, IMO.

Terrible customer service is the norm at too many casino's. Over 40 casino's in Colorado have closed since gambling was legalized in 3 mountain towns. Worse service I ever got was in Playboy Club in Atlantic City. Rode bus from Baltimore several times a month due to Playboys late departure schedule. Usually had free buffet and $25 comps in quarters. Would stay and play out of loyalty until first
insult. Usually didn't take long BJ dealer waving smoke back at players, rude answer to a question, etc. Classic was the night after free prime rub, my wife and I lined up to get comps. Was rotated among cages so there would just be one line. This cage was next to $1 slots and wife wanted to play our $50 on slots while I headed to BJ with another couple that was with us. This was a full cage, just had a large amount of rolled quarters. When she asked for dollar coins the lady spit out in a nasty tone . " NO You bus people will have to go to another cage and trade them there ! " So with full bellies and $100 of playboys quarters we caught a cab to Harrah's.

Quote: silversonic2006

I'm not mad at the floor manager's ruling; I didn't expect them to do anything. I fully accept that if the casino wants to say "Sorry, tough luck" in a situation like mine, then that's their choice to make and as a casino guest, I accept that ruling when I play there. I'm just curious to know if a casino in a more competitive market would have done anything else for a guest. Sounds like the answer is probably not.

I have had a similar situation in atlantic city ceasars palace..i informed the floor manager who knew me, also the cage, at that time I didnt think much of it, because I only play slots to kill time, but later one of the pit bosses at craps (again who knew me) came up and said they have sent me a free champange bottle (in my room) to make up for my lost ticket...(again could me because I was already comped full RFB)...but I agree with the above post, i didnt expect anything but it was still nice to have a nice gesture from the casino
Cheers

Quote: Face

My place tracks down anything over $20. In your case (what, 30 sec away?) the ticket would have been immediately canceled and redrafted. Had it been already redeemed as yours had, we would have backtracked you until we seen the ticket, ID'ed the patron who took it, and approached them in an attempt to get them to pay restitution.

Face,
We do the same thing. It's easy enough to track the ticket and ID whoever took it. We will approach the customer that took the ticket and try and give them an easy out to give the ticket or money back. "Did you happen to grab a ticket from a double diamond machine by the gift shop by mistake?". 9 times out of 10 they give it up pretty easily. It surprises me how many times people do things in a casino that they would never do someplace else.

Mark

I had a $420 video poker slot ticket taken out of my pocket at one of the 'Strip' casinos. By the time I realised that it had gone, the ticket had been cashed. Expensive lesson learnt that day.

Quote: Switch

I had a $420 video poker slot ticket taken out of my pocket at one of the 'Strip' casinos. By the time I realised that it had gone, the ticket had been cashed. Expensive lesson learnt that day.

That's easy. Backtrack you until we see it being taken, backtrack thief until he uses players card, identify, flag and wait for him to return. He returns, notify authorities, make em pay it back and throw him in the clink. Notify you of findings and arrange to get money back. Unless he doesn't use a players card, then you're SOL.

Do places not do this? I thought it was standard operating procedure, customer service and all that. I get sent on wild goose chases for the most mundane things, I'm surprised a $420 theft would be ignored.

Quote: Face

That's easy. Backtrack you until we see it being taken, backtrack thief until he uses players card, identify, flag and wait for him to return. He returns, notify authorities, make em pay it back and throw him in the clink. Notify you of findings and arrange to get money back. Unless he doesn't use a players card, then you're SOL.

Do places not do this? I thought it was standard operating procedure, customer service and all that. I get sent on wild goose chases for the most mundane things, I'm surprised a $420 theft would be ignored.

The casino tracked the ticket and found out that it had been cashed out through the ATM ticket payout machine. Security didn't tell me if they saw the person cash out the ticket on their surveillance cameras. I spent 2 hours at the police station reporting the incident and the police checked the casinos cameras the next day and found nothing that could pinpoint the thief.

Quote: Switch

... the police checked the casinos cameras the next day and found nothing that could pinpoint the thief.

Ah, OK. Yeah, that does happen sometimes where we/they just can't tell. It just sounded from your post like they threw up their hands like "what canya do?". At least they tried...=(