When not to be on the phone
July 10,
2009
Dear Mark: I was
recently at a casino in Las Vegas and cashed out
my winnings at the cashier’s cage. Upon giving
the cashier my chips, my cell phone rang and so
I answered it not paying attention to the
cashier counting out my money. I got to my car
and realized that the cashier did not give me
the right amount. I returned to the cashier's
cage and asked to speak to a manager because the
person I went to was gone. After waiting for 15
to 20 minutes he came back and said that he
watched the transaction on video and said that
the cashier gave me $1,100, and I disputed with
him saying that was not true. I took $1,100 in
chips to the counter and when I counted my money
in the car I only had $400.
So he calls the Gaming Commission and upon
explaining my situation to the Gaming Commission
employee I was told that they would review the
transaction and let me know the outcome and this
should only take about 10 to 15 minutes. I
waited for an hour and then the Gaming
Commission comes back and tells me that I was
given $1,225 I asked to review the transaction
myself and I was told that I could not see it. I
do not know what I should do to get the money
that I won. Could you please point me in the
right direction if possible? Lamond H.
By already having the Gaming Commission weigh
in, Lamond, you’re probably not going to climb
the ladder any higher than you did. As for
letting you review the tape, they just don’t,
due to their need not to reveal how they do what
they do, (exception: the tape could be entered
as evidence in a civil trial).
So what did both the cage manager and the gaming
agent’s prying eyes see? Well, for
starters, know that the essence of casino
security is the extensive use of closed circuit
television (CCTV), and there are probably more
eye-in-the-sky views of the cashier’s cage than
of anything else in the casino, thanks to those
ceiling-mounted, dome-shaped enclosures with
each camera able to be panned up to 360 degrees.
The main function of those cameras is the
production of film records, documenting the
assets of the casino in areas that are
cash-sensitive, or where large dollar amounts
change hands, e.g. a huge slot payoff. Those
areas include the cashier cage, the pit, the
slot drop, etc.
But even with cameras rolling and a surveillance
operator doing the watching, that’s not to say a
rogue employee didn’t pocket the difference.
Because there is that dastardly desire in the
poison heart of some individuals to rip off
others, employee theft does happen in a casino.
But in your case, the theft would most
definitely have been on camera, with no second
chances for the employee. If detected, he or she
would have been canned immediately, with
possible confiscation of their Sheriff’s card,
and the offender would have a tough time finding
another job in the industry.
Outside of looking into every nook and cranny of
your wallet, your car key pocket, glove box, sun
visor ledge (You know what I mean -- where
you would put a stash of winnings to hide it
from your significant other), I can’t explain
the discrepancy of $400 in your pocket, $1,100
you claim you won, and $1,225 an employee of the
Gaming Commission said you were paid. What was
missing from your e-mail was the willingness of
the casino to count down the drawer to see if
there was an overage. They do it anyway at the
end of every shift, and you could have at least
got an accounting of its result.
It’s up to you to decide how long and far you
feel like chasing down your lost winnings. You
can always find a lawyer, working out of his car
to keep the overhead down, to take up your
fight, but for now I offer you a lesson
learned, that being it is your responsibility if
destiny favors you to count and verify full
payment when cashing out, and of course, a
sympathetic pat on the back.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “The
mantra “SLOW DOWN” fits just about every game,
and should be applied by just about every
gambler.” --Frank Scoblete, 109 Ways to Beat the
Casinos
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