This silly mistake happened in July while playing at the M Resort. It has been more than 10 years since I have made a similar mistake — – and I’m fortunate that this mistake was relatively small — – but let me tell you what happened and what I did about it.
I had some free play to pick up — – $130 — – and I was also playing through an additional $850 to earn a “free” lunch buffet. They have some $1 NSU machines and I was using those to pick this up.
I downloaded the $130 and played — – and ended up with $75 in credits, meaning this time I had lost $55 in the process of playing off my free play and earning the free buffet. Not a great result by any means, but that’s gambling and the daily score didn’t bother me at all. I recorded my result and went off to enjoy my lunch while reading a book that I had brought along.
Afterwards, I decided to cash out my $75 ticket between the buffet and the parking garage — and couldn’t find it. I searched my wallet and all possible pockets. I also thumbed through my book in case I had put the ticket there as a bookmark of sorts. Nothing.
I stopped by the machine “in case,” but nobody was playing the machine and the last ticket cashed out wasn’t for $75.
I was late to an appointment so I left the casino. I was going to be back the next day for a drawing, so I figured that I would then check with the slot department in case the ticket was turned in. It wasn’t likely, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to check. Maybe a slot attendant saw the credits, cashed the ticket, and turned it in. Maybe the next person who sat down there was the sort of person who would turn it in. Who knew?
I don’t know how likely either one of these scenarios was, perhaps 10% – 20% total — – that’s a wild-assed guess — -but if I didn’t ask, there was probably no chance I’d see any part of that $75. And a 10% – 20% chance was better than no chance at all.
So, I got there the following day and asked to see Kevin. I don’t know his exact title — – he’s some sort of slot supervisor or maybe the slot shift boss — – but I’ve known him from playing there for three or four years. Our relationship is friendly and I don’t have a reputation there of being an angle-shooter. I figured he’d believe my story and would help me if he could.
He asked questions about what time of day it was and what machine. I told him and in about two minutes he found a record that showed much of what happened. The slot record he looked at (he didn’t let me see it) indeed showed I had played about 10 minutes with my card in and left without cashing out. The record he was looking at didn’t show the number of credits I had left behind and this wasn’t a big enough deal to warrant him pulling up the surveillance tapes. Perhaps I could have made it that big of a deal — – were I really stressed about this and insistent — – but I saw this as a “bump in the road” and figured the “finders keepers” rule would apply. If I need a big favor down the road, I don’t want to have used it up on something this small.
Eight minutes after I left, according to the slot record, a woman whose name I didn’t recognize (whether Keven knew or not, he didn’t say) inserted her players’ card and some money, played eight minutes, and cashed out for $40.
There was nothing suspicious here to Kevin’s eye, and the fact that she inserted some money and played some masked whatever really happened — – at least according to this particular slot record. Kevin said he was sorry that he couldn’t help me.
I was glad he checked for me. I figured it was a longshot anyway and it was my own fault, so why get upset? I’m 70 years of age now — – and I suspect these things will happen a little more frequently as I get older. That’s the nature of getting older.
In spite of no “good” result, I’m glad I checked. I could have gotten lucky, and checking improved my chances even though I didn’t cash on those chances this time.
Bob, (or anyone) please clarify something for me. When I see a host at the end of a visit they seem to know exactly what my net result is (in addition to the theoretical) Also at the end of the year the casino can tell me what my net win or loss is. Don’t they need to accumulate my result at each machine to determine this? So I am wondering if the person you spoke with could not tell you the next player’s details or simply did not tell you. I understand that it was a good choice not to push him due to the “low” amount in question. If they did have the details and contacted the next player doesn’t lawyer Bob say they would have to return the money or be guilty of theft? Thank you.
A very similar incident happened to a regular here last year. Him and a friend were chatting it up while he was playing (Ironically, $1 NSUD also). I was three machines away. They ended up leaving to go eat. About 10 minutes later a lady went to the machine and cashed out what i figured was leftover change you see all the time. I even called her a “thief” as she walked away. Figuring it was just small change, I just kept playing. 5 minutes after that, the original player came back and was disgusted after looking at the machine. He called for a slot attendant and told her he left $400 on there by accident. At this point I told him what I saw. They got a hold of a slot supervisor and surveillance. Although the ticket was cashed and she had left, the supervisor graciously gave him $400 in free play. I thought that was pretty nice of her considering they didn’t have to do anything.
So the slot supervisor let Bob see the name(s) of persons who played the machine around the same time? That doesn’t quite seem like the right thing to do. Anyway, some 25 years ago (and I’m 70 now, so it wasn’t due to age) in a Tunica casino I left a VP machine with $1000 credits. I took the escalator up to second floor, walking toward the buffet (had a bus comp) when I remembered I hadn’t cashed out that 1K. After nearly fainting, I spun around, ran like mad, skipped down the UP escalator (the Down escalator was opposite end of the floor), found the machine and luckily my 1K was still there. I wouldn’t have thought to ask an employee about it had someone cashed it out, just would have done a ‘walk of shame’ and not told a soul about it!
I did not see the slot record. He didn’t offer to show me and I didn’t ask.
Insofar as “close calls” where I left a machine unattended (once for a bathroom break) where I came back and my credits were still there, I’ve had those too.
Just going by what was written: ” I a woman whose name I didn’t recognize (whether Keven knew or not, he didn’t say)”. Perhaps the slot supervisor just spoke the name.
It does sound like I was told the name. I don’t remember it that way.
At this point i can’t be sure if I have forgotten that I was told — or accidentally mis-wrote the article.
You made the right choice – you would not have known if you didn’t ask. A couple of years ago, I went to the M to play in HL. I inserted a $100 bill into the machine and began to play; shortly after I started to play, I noticed there were $1100 in credits on the machine. I immediately realized someone had left $1000. I played for awhile debating how to handle the situation. I figured whoever had left it would be back shortly (I planned to play for several hours) and I would return the money. No one came. I made the decision to put on my light for service and told the employee who came over what had happened. He did some research and found that the person who had played before me had not been playing with a card (odd), but he told me he had seen who it was and knew the player… and that if I gave him the money, he’d be sure to give it back to that person… so I did. I have no way of knowing if that $1000 ended up with the rightful owner – but I have a clear conscience.
I was playing a machine at Borgata in AC a few years ago & cashed out about $80. I took the ticket & went to a different machine. Before inserting it I saw it was only for a few cents. I immediately went back to the first machine & the screen showed the cashout amount was about $80. A slot attendant checked the machine and called security. They took my info & my cell number. About 15 minutes later they called me. They checked the surveillance video, and saw that the ticket I took was actually one left on the machine printer from the previous player, identified the person who took my ticket, found that person playing at a different machine, confronted that person & got my money back. I assume they have a facial recognition system. I learned to always check the ticket before I leave a machine.
Was at Mohegan, just finished a $300 session. Cashed out for my break. Went back for more and couldn’t find my $300. checked every pocket, checked my bag. No $300. I sat at the machine in utter dismay that I had dropped $300 on the floor. I called a friend in near tears (I really don’t like losing my money, and I really don’t like it when I lose it in a dumb fashion! ). Got myself together and made the money “back” on the next hour’s session. Still bummed, I wandered around, went and got a pretzel. Sitting and sighing about my lost 300 dollars, I reached in my back pocket which I had checked and seen nothing but tissue and there somehow crumpled in the tissue was my $300 dollars.
I left the casino straight away seeing it as a “sign” that I better go before I lose it for real. Superstitious? I don’t care! 😀
As much as I’ve played, I’ve never done this. Perhaps it’s because cashing out and pulling my slot card (or just the latter, if I’ve been wiped out) are part of my hardwired programming at this point. It’s like locking my car and putting the keys in my pocket–I’m usually not even aware that I’ve done it. However, the memory mechanism works in my favor–when I don’t do an unconscious ritual, a faint little alarm goes off in my head. Often, I don’t know exactly what’s wrong–only that something’s a little “off.” I’ve learned over the years to NEVER IGNORE THAT FEELING. So I guess my advice would be, if you hear that little alarm bell go off, mentally retrace your actions of the last minute or so. You might realize that you’ve just had a senior moment (such moments being a feature of human life from age 1 to 111).
I was playing at 4 Queens on the 10/7 Double Bonus Progressive. My wife and I had a bit of a tiff and after inserting a $100 bill into the machine, I decided that I should say something to my wife who was at another bank of machines. I walked over and when I got there, I realized that I hadn’t cashed out. I went back to the machine but my money was gone. I talked to security and they said the ticket was cashed out of that machine for $100, played in another machine and then cashed out for $99.75. The person saw the ticket, cashed it out , played a quarter in another machine to cover the trail and was out the door in a couple of minutes.
Lessons learned . First, when you have a distraction, be extra aware of your surroundings. That is when mistakes usually happen. Second, don’t get in arguments with your wife.
I had a similar incident happen to me recently. I sat down at a Multi King dollar machine and inserted a twenty dollar bill without first looking at the credit balance. The machine registered 120 credits. I cash out immediately think the machine glitch. A little while latter, I was approached by the floor manager about this. I confessed immediately as I am a daily player and want to stay on the good side of management. I explained the situation and paid back the 100 dollars. Problem solved. I learned my lesson: check the credit balance before inserting any money. My pet peeve is those who leave a couple of cents in the machine and walk away. I like to play on even boundaries.
Just cash out the ticket and keep it on your machine. Somebody may come back to get it, or not, but at least you start “even”.
Pre-TITO, and not even video poker, but the same topic. I’m a once-a-year tourist, so I guess that’s why I remember this.
Circa 2000, I was playing ‘Wild Cherry Pie’ on a bank of “advantage” IGT Vision Series machines. The machine next to me was a ‘Double Diamond Mine’. Someone put money in, played for a while, and lined up the diamonds for the bonus (I was “vulturing” their play, of course). There’s a delay while the display dumps the diamonds and increases the credit meter. The player didn’t know this, pressed the ‘play max’ button a few times while the machine was still dumping the diamonds, gave up and walked away (apparently they figured they were out of credits).
The casino was crouded and noisy. I called out to the person as they walked away, but they didn’t hear me. I tilted the chair towards the machine so it looked like someone walked away and would be back. If I saw the person come around again, I’d be a nice guy and tell them they left credits on the machine.
I finished play on my machine, and they hadn’t come back around. So I moved over one seat, put a dollar in the machine, and immediately cashed out (it wasn’t in playable condition). I don’t remember the exact amount, somewhere around $20. I figured “if I don’t take it, someone else will, so I might as well take it”.
Honest or not? Aside from running to casino security, I did my best. I have no regrets about my actions.
Want to know what a *really* “silly mistake” is? Playing video poker every day, all day for twenty years.
And instead of using sophisticated mathematical and statistical skills to advance science, technology, health care or a million other important efforts while earning substantial money in the process, applying those skills to earn free food and a show and less money than you’d have made if you’d done something useful and not insane. That, my friend, is the mother of all mistakes.
Aaron, your assumption doesn’t take into consideration market (largely government) supply and demand, let alone ability. The number of people in the world with sophisticated mathematical and statistical skills is substantial. Knowing enough to apply stats skills toward success as an AP player does not necessarily mean having the ability to advance humanity’s body of knowledge at the cutting edge of worthwhile scientific or medical endeavors.
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