Death in a casino

Another thread on 'Up front money' got me asking some questions on possession of the money should something happen to the gambler..............

Rather than hijack that thread, I have started this one.

However, I did realize there is a potential problem with "up front money". So far, in all of the casinos I have asked, all have said only 1 person can be the signee on the 'deposit'. So, if I put $5K in 'up front money' in the cage, and then I die the next day, my wife cannot get the money. I'm sure the estate can eventually get at the money, but the casino will have it locked up until the legal process can get sorted out.
I think that is a huge advantage of the casino credit program. They are loaning you the money to play with. If you die, I would bet the first thing they do is draft any money owed, directly from your account, ASAP.

It does make me wonder what would happen if you were playing craps, and had $2K sitting in the rack, and you died right there. Does the casino;
-- lock up the money in the rack, and notify the estate they are holding the money?
-- lock up the money in the rack, NOT notify anyone, and wait for the unclaimed funds statue to run out ?
-- have some obscure rule in place that allows them to just keep the chips outright ?
-- allow the person who is sharing your room, with the same last name, to take possession of the money ?

Well, whats that about wanting to die in bed at 100 after being shot by the irate father of a sixteen year old girl? I guess thinking about dying in a casino must take second place.

Swell.

Some Nigerian Princess is gonna read that and get an idea, and we'll all start getting a whole new set of spam.

Thanks.

But seriously, is that really your biggest concern when you go to a casino?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

But seriously, is that really your biggest concern when you go to a casino?

My biggest concern? Well, probably not my biggest, but it is something I have considered. My daughter was living with the father of their two kids, when he died. The legal mess we had to sort through was a disaster.

So, I would like to be an informed traveler in Vegas. If $2K sitting in the rack becomes casino money, then rest assured, from now on, I will have 400 in the rack and 1600 in my pocket. My wife and kids can certainly make better use of my money than the casino. I don't mind losing some, while taking a shot a winning more, but I have zero interest in making moves that just results in the casino taking the money.

My point of view: "Oh, Look! I woke up dead." I have far less to worry about today than I did yesterday.

Interesting question. I'll admit I think the same way and take measures to protect my assets from going to NYS in the event of my demise.

I honestly don't know the answer, at least not yet. I've seen a few people die on the job, but in all cases I was obviously more concerned with the person than where the money went. The most recent was a very elderly women whose aorta ruptured, she bled out right there all over the BJ table. I'm pretty sure the event was saved, I'll go back and see if I can determine what course her money took. Barring that, I'll ask around and see if I can find you an answer.

When I saw this thread title, I thought it was gonna be about the latest suicide at the Venetian last night. Guy fell, or jumped, into the valet "drop off" area. That's not a pun. Heard about it from a local cabbie's tweet.

Quote: zippyboy

When I saw this thread title, I thought it was gonna be about the latest suicide at the Venetian last night. Guy fell, or jumped, into the valet "drop off" area. That's not a pun. Heard about it from a local cabbie's tweet.

I was surprised at how many times this happens. Or to be more clear, how many times it happens or is attempted vs. normal everyday life/locations. I know of three here in 18 months. One was a guy fighting with his g/f. He jumped from the 3rd floor and landed on top of the casino (about 15ft, no big deal). Another jumped from the 8th floor garage onto the street, pretty sure he lived but was terribly injured. Another girl came here and blew her entire college tuition money on her way to school and tried jumping from the top of the garage, but was stopped. Seems to be an odd resolution to money/compulsion issues.

Quote: Face

Another girl came here and blew her entire college tuition money on her way to school and tried jumping from the top of the garage, but was stopped. Seems to be an odd resolution to money/compulsion issues.

Yipes!! That "entire college tuition money" was probably just one semester's tuition money but even if it was indeed four years worth that she went through in the casino, didn't she know she could earn it back in Vegas very, very easily and still make it to the first day of her classes with no trouble at all.

Quote: RaleighCraps

It does make me wonder what would happen if you were playing craps, and had $2K sitting in the rack, and you died right there. Does the casino;
-- lock up the money in the rack, and notify the estate they are holding the money?
-- lock up the money in the rack, NOT notify anyone, and wait for the unclaimed funds statue to run out ?
-- have some obscure rule in place that allows them to just keep the chips outright ?
-- allow the person who is sharing your room, with the same last name, to take possession of the money ?

This came up in dealer school. Basically the instructor said the cheques are "secured" pending claim by someone in the person's estate. The cheques are NOT the casino's to keep the second the person hits the floor/layout.

The way it came up was the instructor was having a "players are greedy" momeny and said he was dealing or pit bossing when someone fell dead at BJ. Said he could not believe people's first question was not, "how is he" but "what happens to his cheques."

Of course my question right off was, "so, what DOES happen to the cheques?"

I might have askes what happens if he was the shooter and the point was not made but if I did I would likely be pulling dice from a place in my body where they do not belong............

Quote:

Basically the instructor said the cheques are "secured" pending claim by someone in the person's estate. The cheques are NOT the casino's to keep the second the person hits the floor/layout.

That's the obvious part of the obvious answer.

But what if no family member steps forward? How hard does the casino try to tie the player to a player account, and find a family member? Or do they simply lock up the chips and wait until a statute of limitations expires so the money is thier's (if at all)?

Would their actions be different if it was $10 vs $10,000?


This not the same as abandoned slot tickets, but surely, there are rules and procedures.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

That's the obvious part of the obvious answer.

But what if no family member steps forward? How hard does the casino try to tie the player to a player account, and find a family member? Or do they simply lock up the chips and wait until a statute of limitations expires so the money is thier's (if at all)?

Would their actions be different if it was $10 vs $10,000?


This not the same as abandoned slot tickets, but surely, there are rules and procedures.

Logically the amount should not matter unless it is above IRS Cash Reporting Requirements (ie: more than $10,000.) Continuing logically, unless it is a jamming craps game the cheques are obbviouly one persons. And still logically I would expect the casino or the coronor to do a "billfold biopsy" and find contact info. Or a cell-phone biopsy, call all the numbers until you get a family member. True lone wolfs with no family are rare and as rare is the person who went thru the hassle to completely cut off all traces of who they are.

Note I said "logically." This was for the benefit of 2-3 members out there who seem to think drawing a logical conclusion is to say you know and think you are an "expert" on the matter. (you know who you are.) But pretend it is a non-casino and the guy just drops dead in his room. Does the hotel take his watch and rings? Doubtful. They will put it aside and wait some time for people to claim it. And I'd be pretty sure there are laws in each state for something like that. Heck, there are laws how long the dry cleaner must hoold your stuff.

I'd doubt that all but the smallest flea-collar casino would just drop the cheques into the cage and take the profit. They may make a note of the amount and recirculate the physical cheques, though.

BTW: The law on the dry cleaner was 180 days so if I had to make a guess I'd start there as, again logically, this is a matter of small personal property and should follow. But that is a SWAG.

Quote: zippyboy

When I saw this thread title, I thought it was gonna be about the latest suicide at the Venetian

Quote:

Metro spokeswoman Laura Meltzer said Tornheim's family was present when the accident occurred. The victim leaned too far over the wall on the 10th floor of the parking garage while possibly taking a photo and fell to his death, she said.

Any stretching or leaning required to take a picture at 10 floors up should be the first clue it's not a good idea.

Quote: FleaStiff

Yipes!! That "entire college tuition money" was probably just one semester's tuition money but even if it was indeed four years worth that she went through in the casino, didn't she know she could earn it back in Vegas very, very easily and still make it to the first day of her classes with no trouble at all.

Another of my muddy sentences that change meaning depending on which word you put the emphasis on. What I meant was "she had money intended for college tuition (a few $10k's) and spent the entire amount" not "she had her entire 4 year sum of her college tuition and spent it all". So yes, only money for a semester or two, but still a big deal to her it seems, what with the trying to jump and all.

Quote: rxwine

Quote: zippyboy

When I saw this thread title, I thought it was gonna be about the latest suicide at the Venetian

Any stretching or leaning required to take a picture at 10 floors up should be the first clue it's not a good idea.

Planking claims another innocent victim?

Yes, probably planking ... "to take a photo" sounds like a public relations reference to planking.