Why Casinos Cages Exchange Cash, Etc. for TITO vouchers?

Why doesn’t a casino exchange cash, checks, etc. for TITO slips rather than forcing me to feed c-notes into a machine for $1000 slips. Or a bill breaking machine?

[Editor's Note: This answer is supplied by Andrew Uyal, author of our book The Blackjack Insiders and a floor supervisor at a Strip megaresort.]

After doing some research, I've confirmed my initial thought: You can, in fact, exchange cash or chips for TITO slips at the cage. Slot and cage transactions are by no means my specialty or area of expertise, but after checking with sources in Vegas and other parts of the country, the consensus is that you can exchange cash for tickets.

I don't deal in absolutes, so there could absolutely be jurisdictions that don't allow this, but it sounds like buying TITOs is, for the most part, a common practice, especially for high-limit slot players. Some machines in high-limit rooms cost several thousand dollars each pull, so there has to be a way to play those machines without spending an hour loading $100 bills into them.

Not only can you exchange cash for a TITO slip, but you can take a marker for a ticket as well. I spoke with someone who regularly issues $20,000 and up to $50,000 tickets to slot players with credit lines or front money on deposit.

If you want to buy tickets in cash, the regular rules for cash transactions apply. However, if you want to buy more than $10,000, you'll need to provide additional information to prove your identity and source of income to satisfy the CTR or cash-transaction report. This is a turnoff to a lot of people, but if you want to play for large stakes, it's unavoidable.

While there may be some jurisdictions where this type of exchange isn't allowed, it sounds like in large part, exchanging cash for TITO slips is not only allowed, but is the routine way to play high-limit slots.

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Comments

Donzack Feb-11-2025

Thanks

This was my QoD. I’ve only tried it in Illinois and have been turned down. I’ll try it again in Nevada.

Kevin Rough Feb-11-2025

Change machine

I occasionally visit Turning Stone, which is an Indian casino east of Syracuse, NY.  They have a change machine with no fees so I occasionally will cash in coins there.  The machine issues a receipt that you take to the cage.  Every time they ask if I want cash or a "slot ticket" (their words).  So I've always assumed you could just buy a "slot ticket" at the cage.

O2bnVegas Feb-11-2025

bill breaking machines

Unless I'm missing the point here, ATMs in casinos do break bills into smaller bills, i.e. ones for a five, fives for a twenty, etc.  Put in a C-note and most will give option for five twenties or combos of denominations.

Lately when paid for a jackpot at a machine, the attendant often asks if I would prefer a TITO rather than cash. I suppose I could request it before having the cash brought to me.

Candy

Tim Clark Feb-11-2025

Tim

Not sure if they still do but when Resorts World in Vegas opened you could load cash to play to your players card.

Donzack Feb-11-2025

American Place casino

I’m at the American Place casino in Waukegan Illinois and ask a slot manager if I could exchange c-notes for tickets at the cashier. She said no but didn’t know the reason. She said she worked at a casino in Tennessee and it was illegal to do so. Another worker said I could collect a hand pay by ticket if requested.

David Sabo Feb-11-2025

Bob Dancer

In Bob's articles about VP he mentions that he does this regularly.

Marcus Leath Feb-11-2025

Read Bob Dancer

As David correctly notes in another comment here, Bob Dancer has written about this several times. It is common practice for big dollar VP players.  Most Las Vegas casinos do this every day.

Donzack Feb-11-2025

American Place casino

Slot manager sent me an email that it was a good idea and will look into the possibility and any legal issues.

Question of the Day - 11 February 2025

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