Ameristar Casino KC denies entry

In Kansas when you get a driver's license, they give you a temporary license and mail you the real one in a few weeks. This fellow I know, age 35, had his ID checked at the entrance, and was denied entry due to having a Kansas temporary license that could not be swiped into the system. That is ridiculous.

Quote: JuniorWiz

In Kansas when you get a driver's license, they give you a temporary license and mail you the real one in a few weeks. This fellow I know, age 35, had his ID checked at the entrance, and was denied entry due to having a Kansas temporary license that could not be swiped into the system. That is ridiculous.

i'm never ever going to THAT casino, Ever!

If that was me, I would have said, "I'm going in. If you have a problem with that, call the police."

Quote: JuniorWiz

...could not be swiped into the system.

Huh? Swiped into the system? What's that all about? Big brother? You can't gamble anonymously? WTF?

Quote: Alan

Huh? Swiped into the system? What's that all about? Big brother? You can't gamble anonymously? WTF?

I don't remember having to do this at the Ameristar, but some of the barge casinos scan IDs as a way of ensuring that the boat isn't over-capacity in addition to verifying the age and ability to gamble of each patron. Scanning every ID is by far the best way of enforcing those self-excluding anti-gambling programs.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

If that was me, I would have said, "I'm going in. If you have a problem with that, call the police."

I wouldn't say that. The police would have an easy time pursuing a trespassing charge.

It would be better to ask to see a manager and work the issue out. if that doesn't happen, then raise holy hell and threaten a lawsuit.

I had this happen to me at Harrah's New Orleans, too. I had just moved to Texas had a "provisional" (paper) license. No gambling for me. To be fair, the NCAA tournament was in town and I was only 27 at the time and I'm told I "look young" all the time. It wasn't a terrible stretch, I suppose.

Why can't these flyover states take a look at what Jersey does? You're there for an hour and you get a real license on the spot. Badda Bing, Badda boom, you're done.

Quote: Alan

Huh? Swiped into the system? What's that all about? Big brother? You can't gamble anonymously? WTF?

Many casinos do this now, often telling their security and Players Club personnel that the Gaming Regulations require them to scan a player's drivers license into their computer system. Its hogwash of course, but they own the hog and don't mind telling their employees to lie about the existence of regulations.

See: The Bear Growls..

So, basically, if you don't have a DL, you are SOL with regards to gambling? That bites!

Quote: Alan

So, basically, if you don't have a DL, you are SOL with regards to gambling? That bites!

They'll also take a few other things in most cases...State ID, Military ID, Passport, top-level players-club card...

It was an age ID check, but I do believe all Missouri casino patrons have to be able to produce ID at any time.

Kansas used to give you your license on the spot. Their new claim was your picture had to be verified it was really you with Homeland Security or some BS like that

I've heard of bars in the area reject the paper ids, too.

Really, though, is it that big of a deal? There are three other casinos in town who would probably be happy to take your money. Harrah's is like 5 minutes west of Ameristar, even.

Unless they all have the same policy. That would be kind of lame.

He went to Harrah's and won, and was very happy.

i remember when i was 21 at Resorts East Chicago in Indiana, one time i forgot to bring my license with me. normally i didnt get carded by security since i was such a regular there but this time of all times i happened to get carded. i asked if theres any way they would let me in and they said if someone that worked there could verify my age and identity they would let me in. they let me call over a pitboss who i was familiar with to verify my age and they then let me in.

THAT'S GOOD. i DOUBT IF THEY WOULD DO THAT IN THE STATE OF MIZERY (AS A KANSAN, MY WORD FOR MISSOURI)

The passport card comes in handy for this reason - it does not have a mag stripe so is unscannable, and it doesn't have one's address, which is really unnecessary for bartenders or TSA officials to have. I try to use my driver's license only for driving and use the passport card for everything else. I've noticed a lot of flyers using the passport card now, especially women who don't need some government agent to find a pretense to start a conversation.

Well, I don't feel like googling. WTF is a passport card?

Quote: JuniorWiz

Well, I don't feel like googling. WTF is a passport card?

It's an optional item you can get instead of, or in addition to, a passport.

It's a typical ID card sized item, that can be used as a passport at limited border crossings. The key word is limited. As I understand, it's only good between US and Canada, Mexico and certain Caribbean countries.

It's slightly cheaper than a passport book, or slightly more for both, if getting both at the same time.

I'm taking a cruise to Bermuda this fall and applied for a passport. It's unclear if the card is usable for Bermuda so I opted for the regular book.

Another drawback to the passport card is that if you are in another country, ie Mexico, Canada, certain Caribbean islands, and need to fly back to the US, the passport card will not work. In that case you would need the full passport book. The passport card is really best for land or sea crossings into Canada or Mexico, domestic travel too, I guess.

In New York they call it an "Enhanced Driver's License" and it can be used at our border crossings to Canada instead of a passport. There is , of course, an additional fee to get it. I just use my regular passport.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

It's an optional item you can get instead of, or in addition to, a passport.

PURPOSE
The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.
VALIDITY AND COST
Adults (Age 16 and Older)
Validity: 10 years
First-Time Applicant Cost: $55
Previous Passport Holder Cost: $30
Minors (Under Age 16)
Validity: 5 years
Cost for All Minors: $40

HOW TO APPLY
All U.S. citizens may apply for a passport card.
If you have a U.S. passport book and are eligible to use Form DS-82, you may apply for the card by mail. You can use Form DS-82 to renew your passport book at the same time that your apply for your passport card.
If you have never had a U.S. passport book or are not eligible to use Form DS-82, you must apply in person using Form DS-11.
All passport cards will be returned using First Class Mail. Passport cards cannot be shipped to you using overnight delivery.

SECURITY
To increase speed, efficiency, and security at U.S. land and sea border crossings, the passport card contains a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. There is no personal information written to the RFID chip. This chip points to a stored record in secure government databases.
With RFID technology, Customs and Border Protection inspectors will be able to access photographs and other biographical information stored in secure government databases as the traveler approaches an inspection station.
The passport card uses state-of-the-art security features to prevent against the possibility of counterfeiting and forgery. A protective RFID-blocking sleeve is provided with each passport card to protect against unauthorized reading or tracking of the card when it is not in use.

HISTORY
We began production of the U.S. Passport Card on July 14, 2008. As of March 2010, more than 2,700,000 Passport Cards have been issued to U.S. citizens.
State Department