Binions...

My family decided to play some slots on Fremont St so we started at Binions Horseshoe as it used to be called. We didn't do well so we cashed out and couldn't find a machine to cash out with so we went to the "cashier". Apparently they are now required to demand all patrons to remove their mask and take a picture no matter the amount. The cashier machines do not require you to remove your mask for a face picture but the live cashier does. Why is this?  This really creeps me out. Enough that we will never go to this casino again. I guess I understand if you are cashing out a very large amount but not for very small amounts that even the machine cashier doesn't even require and the live cashier was so militant about it too. She seemed to really enjoy her new power.   Creepy!! They lost all our future business. 

I dont know but I suspect it is just a  security safeguard...sorta like when the cashier flips her hands around and claps them in front of the camera.      Human being potentialy can cheat and give someone more money than they should whereas a machine wont.     So maybe its just a safeguard to keep a record of everyone doing personal transactions.

Hopefully we wont be wearing masks much longer.

The rationale is that cashiers have been known to collude with accomplices who pose as customers and hand off money to them in various ways. If the accomplice is wearing a mask, it'll be that much harder to track him down later--which wouldn't happen before the crooked cashier's shift ends, at the earliest.

Oh my Jody, just chill out.

I agree just chill. What on earth "creeped you out" If was the 5  second mask pull , and your fear of covid? If so perhaps you shouldn't be traveling. Many of the casino's make you pull down your mask briefly when you enter

They do the same thing at their sister property the Four Queens. No big deal.

Was it the picture itself or the mask removal that was the issue for you Jody.  The mask issue is just something we and they will probably be figuring out when they tell us we can stop wearing them.As for the picutre I know they take pictures of me every second I am in a casino and waking down freemont. But it seems like a lot of work for small payout. Maybe not for one they need to report but for a little payout? I can see why you were concerned. Personally I would just be like great one more pic of me on file in some coperate office and go back to playing.  But each person has to figure those lines out for themselves. Thanks for telling us

Kevin's explanation sounds logical, especially with smaller value (IMO) TITOs.   I can imagine a person handing a $5 TITO to a colluding cashier who hands back a C-note.  Who would jeopardize their job for such?  But I'm sure it has happened.

Just guessing, but I figure the face and transaction of every person going to a cage at any casino for anything is captured by surveillance 24/7, mask or no mask.  Maybe Binions and Four Queens and others feel they lack the necessary systems to capture what they think they need, or they have other reasons.

Perhaps the cage person Jody encountered didn't have the best people skills.  Like with airport TSA. They can be really nice, or they can make you feel like an uninvited guest.

My BFF was shaken up when she took a 2K TITO to the cage.  The cashier asked for her DL, wrote the DL number on the TITO then paid her.   This had not happened to her before even with large TITOs.  I told BFF no big deal, they have their procedures.  Maybe this was newly implemented 'today', or randomly, or whatever.  As long as they give us the money (without being back-roomed first, LOL).

Candy

You can and should refuse to give any identification when cashing a TITO of less than $10K. Legally there is no requirement for them to verify your ID and there is no requirement for you to provide it.

 If they still refuse to redeem your ticket, tell them that a call to NGC (Nevada Gaming Commission) will follow. You will get paid without showing ID. It has happened to me.

I sure hope we don't end up like communist canada.  Just conform!  I understand surveillance and don't have a problem with that. It's the way they were so militant and abusive. I won't take that attitude from anyone. Everyone desirves to be treated with respect, even Boilerman.