Comments on: Another Way to Lose

By: Greg Williams

Greg Williams — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:08:12 +0000

The shoe was on the other foot for me about a year ago. I was playing vp in the wee hours of the morning in one of our Indian casinos in Michigan, when I heard the beep sound of a cash out ticket in one of the machines behind me. I noticed no-one around so I took the ticket and held onto it, hoping the person playing that had been playing the machine would return. About 5 minutes later I noticed a gentleman at the machine looking around (probably for his ticket) I asked him if he had been playing that machine, and he replyed “Yes, And I forgot to take my ticket from the machine”. I then gave him his ticket and he was so thankful there is some honest people still in this world. PS The ticket was $75.00.

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:40:20 +0000

Jean, kudos to you for not feeling vindictive about this theft. I agree with you this person could be in who knows what financial/life situation. If he did need it to feed his family I hope that is what he uses it for.

I have come across money before and always return it to the person or store personnel. I was at a discount store and an older customer in front of my dropped a folded up $100.00 bill, I picked it up and promptly gave it to her, she had no idea she dropped it.

It takes a certain caliber of person to be honest and know when something does not belong to us. I would feel something bad would happen to me if I took something that was not mine.

You will continue to win, enjoy life and have lots of luck in the future.

By: Mikey

Mikey — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:38:55 +0000

So sorry to hear that, Jean. And another way to view your experience in a positive light is the effect your story will have on your readers now. We will all surely be more alert and aware while gambling thanks to you.

By: Terrence Murphy

Terrence Murphy — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:23:57 +0000

That’s why I’ve always liked, admired and respected you, Jean. No anger, no bitterness, no revenge in mind; you realize it’s just life as usual. If we let the bad/sad parts of life effect us too much, it’s our fault, not life.

Terry & VP Pappy

“Winning…it’s an inside job.”
–VP Pappy

By: Harris Gibson

Harris Gibson — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:16:07 +0000

Just a note to say that I am sorry that you had to go through something like this. You have to be I gambler to know how it feels I guess. Something similar happened to me many years ago at the racetrack with a betting voucher and a self service machine. The ironic part of this is that every time I saw someone leaving a voucher, I would tell them and give it back to them. What goes around doesn’t always come around I guess. It never happened again however. I usually use my phone account so there is never a problem, but I am always careful to keep that voucher in my sight because IT IS CASH. I think that it was very nice of you to tell this story because you are known for saving your readers money and if it makes us more vigilant, then you have once again saved us from finding another way to lose. As for your lost money, just chalk it up to the cost of doing (monkey) business.
Yours truly,
Haris Gibson (A big fan)

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:54:17 +0000

I love how they figured out what happened. It’s like an episode of Las Vegas (the newer one). And Jane Lynch would be playing you (again).

By: james thompson

james thompson — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:29:19 +0000

I had the exact same thing happen to me at the Wynn. I had turned and walked away from my machine for 30 seconds and my 400 dollars was gone. I saw the guy but he tricked me with a ticket in his palm for 5 cents.
By the time securtiy showed up and checked things out.
He had already cashed the tix across the casino.

By: JAMES

JAMES — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:24:35 +0000

I had the same thing happen to me at Wynn. I was woozy from not eating enough food during the day and I was waiting for a time close to the dinner time switch over so I could get the crab legs.
I put in my 400 dollar ticket and started to play. For some reason I decided to go play the quarter 8/5 bonus machines near the craps tables.
I had only walked 40 yards before i realized I left the tix. I turned around and thought I saw some grey haired man quickly walk away with the tix from the machine. I quickly turned around and told him that that was my ticket, but he showed me a tix for 5 cents.
Because I was woozy I let him go. But after realizing that he had to of had the tix. I couldn ‘t find him. I contacted security and they found that the tix was cashed at the other end of the casino.
I’ve got to believe that there are guys and gals that just walk casinos looking for left over credits. I’ve seen it at the HRH with a young guy who looked homeless.

By: Bobby98604

Bobby98604 — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:29:51 +0000

Wow Jean, talk about a drama episode. Such an ordeal would qualify in an episode of the show Las Vegas (if it was still on the air). I am extremely impressed with how the employees at The Palms handled the situation. They could’ve just said “sorry ’bout that” and that would be the end of it. Such a nice gesture on their part, giving you the $200 in free play. Your ordeal reminded me of an episode I had about a year ago in Reno near a ticket kiosk. I made the mistake of using that area to count the bills in my wallet. I saw someone pick up something from the floor and thought it might’ve been money from my wallet. After taking careful inventory I came to the conclusion that my funds were still intact but I learned a valuable lesson from that…standing in front of a ticket kiosk is NOT the place for an audit of personal funds.

By: Steve in Michigan

Steve in Michigan — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:15:03 +0000

What a great way to handle a loss, or life in general. A similiar thing happened to me and I too tried to think nice thoughts. The good news was I hit for twice the amount I had lost, within the hour.

From lemons one can make lemonade.

Love your articles.