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Question of the Day - 22 May 2024

Q:

Can people take photographs in casinos now? 

A:

Historically, almost all casinos prohibited the taking of photographs and signs at entrances were posted to that effect. It had to do with the privacy and protection of players, especially in the days when gambling was a vice everywhere except Nevada and the mob, notoriously camera-shy, was running the town. It also was also a means of preventing casing the casino for a potential robbery or possible cheating -- photographing security, the cage, money movements, and the like.

In addition, Las Vegas has always been to which a place people escape, sometimes when they're pretending to be somewhere else, with someone else. So the casinos didn't want to risk being sued by someone who lost his or her marriage or job over an inadvertent exposure.

Thus, up until fairly recently, casinos were extremely sensitive about photography, especially video, anywhere on their property. 

In latter years, however, our impression is that this policy has loosened up somewhat, with casinos being more tolerant of casual snapshots and cell-phone selfies. Part of that impression comes from the fact that, whereas this used to be a frequently asked question, this is the first time it's been asked since we answered it in 2019. So it no longer seems to be much of an issue.

That said, it still can be. 

There seem to be as many different policies on photos in the casino as there are casino operators. Caesars Palace, for example, has always been notoriously averse to the practice, whereas the Four Queens has allowed photos for years (though no video). The Boyd casinos (Sam's Town, Fremont, California, Gold Coast, etc.) allow photos in the casino, but only selfies (you and/or your family). 

Bottom line: You can bring your cell phone or camera, but use it with discretion. In general, it's fine to take a photograph of your buddies drinking at the bar, or eating at the buffet, or posing with an attraction, but it might not be okay to start snapping them playing blackjack, or hitting a slot jackpot, or hanging out in the race and sports book.

If you try it and security shows up, wagging an index finger in your face, use the old cheater's line, "Oh, excuse me. I didn't know," and put the phone or camera away.

 

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Comments

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  • grouch May-22-2024
    viedo
    on you tube you see a lot of videos on slot machines and the casinos allow that but the viedies do not show much just the machines they are playing as they try not to show anyone but the machines

  • hawks242424 May-22-2024
    A Wish
    I wish they'd do away with those slot channels.  I've seen those people recording walking around the casino.  They are worse than the costumed characters on the strip.

  • Toni Armstrong Jr. May-22-2024
    Strat led the way?
    If memory serves, when the new owners took over Stratosphere, they made a concerted effort to attract a younger crowd. Social media posts go with that demographic, so they welcomed it. That’s what I heard at the time. Anyone know more details about this?

  • [email protected] May-22-2024
    Video in Casinos
    It seems like some casinos allow a lot more than just a look at the machines. Look at the plaza with its Brian Christopher, slots machines and his group pulls. Even advertises 26% off rooms there. There are many who do walk-throughs in the hotels in the casinos and most of the time it doesn’t seem to be a problem

  • jay May-22-2024
    Slots vs tables
    Slots and other electronic gaming is pretty tamperproof. Pics/vids posted or not won’t do the casino any harm unless you start catching people’s faces etc.  
    
    Table games or anything that uses a live dealer will be a big Nono.
    People can be compromised.  Want into a bank vault ? You don’t need to be a super spy with cool toys or military level explosives. You just need to compromise the bank manager. Hook him up with a willing young lady and get footage. Hold his daughter hostage. You got vip access to the vault without ever walking into the bank. 
    
    There are also other flaws like dealer error that can be exploited like how he reads the hole card at blackjack, flaws in the deck that allow edge sorting. Anything like this recorded could be gold to a cheater. 
    
    
    
    

  • O2bnVegas May-22-2024
    ear phones?
    But what about those who have the little white phone things in their ear?  They seem to be able to carry on full conversations, hands free.  As my question reveals, I am an IT dud.  Barely can make and answer a call...and text, well I can take pictures....with my cell phone.
    
    Candy

  • Mike May-22-2024
    Camera taken
    There are several internet Vegas stars who frequently tape recordings in the casinos.  Travel Ruby, Vegas Matt, Norma Geli and Pompsie are the top ones I can think of.  Pompsie had his high end camera confiscated at the Cosmo and he was not pleased.  I'm jealous of all of these cats making a living hitting Vegas casinos and making gambling and pool videos.  

  • jay May-22-2024
    ear buds
    At one time - no electronics were allowed a the tables period. Earbuds which are wirelessly connected to a phone, would seem to me a bigger threat than cameras.
    
    You get someone - or multiple someone's standing by the table managing the count using whatever electronics he wants  - no issue there as they are not sitting an playing. They just have to tell the person who is playing to start betting big. 
    
    Most casinos catch their card counters by the wild swings in what people are betting. Counting doesn't mean you will win - there is just a higher probability that you will. Advance techniques might be to not hit your 15's/ 16's against a dealer 10. Conventional wisdom and basic strategy says a 16' doesn't beat a potential dealer 20, but when you know the remaining shoe is rich with 10' valued cards you sit pretty and let the dealer take the cards. 
    
    With 3 people at the table on a conference call you can move the action between players and not tip off that your counting. 

  • Sally_Ann May-22-2024
    Money
    Can't afford to visit Vegas or travel anyway, so none of this matters anyway to me. Many social media influencers, oh, wait, they call them now creators get away with almost everything anyway in exchange for biased glowing shameless plug.