How Prevalent Is It for Players to Damage Slot Machines in Anger?

I sometimes see and hear players physically attack slot and video poker machines. Their actions vary from striking the screen to shaking, even to throwing drinks on them. How prevalent is this behavior and have there been any publicly reported incidents? What are the criminal and civil penalties?

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I was playing a slot machine and the player next to me was very forcefully stabbing at the glass to stop the reels. Has anyone broken the glass (plastic) and what would happen if a player did break the screen? Would they be banned, charged for repairs or just told to leave?

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Your link to the new poll on bringing back your favorite extinct casinos.

"Unfortunately, the behavior you described is not an uncommon occurrence," says a reliable industry source. "I can’t estimate a frequency, but if you're a nationwide operator, chances are that you'll have one of these incidents happening at one of your properties almost daily. No one market is more susceptible than another to it.

"The way we respond is pretty simple — customers must pay for any damage they cause to the machine. If they can't (or won't) pay for the damage, they'll be trespassed and permanently banned from the property."

Nevada Gaming Control Board Senior Research Analyst Michael Lawton adds, "The Board would likely charge vandalism/malicious destruction of property and the penalty depends on the amount of damage: More than $5,000 in damage would be [a category] C felony (1-5 years in prison and up to $1,000 in fines). $250-$5,000 is a gross misdemeanor (up to a year in jail and up to $2,000 in fines). Less than $250 in damage — up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Less than $25 — fine of up to $500."

Perhaps the best example of this is, for some reason, Resorts World in Jamaica, New York, next to Aqueduct Racetrack. The New York Post reports, "Almost 500 people have been arrested for criminal mischief, many for breaking slot machines, since the gambling mecca opened in 2011." However, the story goes on to say, "Bronx resident Pren Mrijaj says the casino has gotten into the habit of accusing people of breaking the machines, then detaining them until they pay up — 'larceny by extortion.'

"At least 150 people have been improperly detained by Casino personnel," Mrijaj alleged in his lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status.

And this seems to go on more on the east coast than elsewhere: "Bitter bettors bashing slot machines tends to happen more often in markets on the Eastern seaboard," casino security expert Alan Zajic told The Post, "as opposed to Las Vegas."

And here's your link to the new poll on which defunct casinos you'd bring back if you could.

How prevalent is it for players to damage slot machines in anger?

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O2bnVegas Feb-19-2020

Reno

Years ago at Harrah's Reno we saw a VP machine with the glass severely busted.  Several months later we were there again and it was still that way.  Suppose maybe the perp wouldn't pay for the repairs?  LOL.  We asked an attendant about it, she seemed to know about it happening but wouldn't talk details.

While dining in the Pelican Room at Louisiana Downs in Shreveport/Bossier we watched a man beating on the glass overlooking the racetrack during a horse race.  He was standing on a chair, almost flat to the glass, screaming and beating it so hard we were sure it would break, though I think it might have been plexiglass.  No breakage, but the guy was sure "cheering" his horse on.  Must have had a lot of money bet on it.

Jackie Feb-19-2020

Shaking and beating

The first time I tried to move to Vegas failed due to not getting employed before living funds ran out.  One of my employment interviews had me examining slot machines to see if I understood their workings. It became quickly obvious that a method to rob a machine was the goal so I excused myself and left the area but not before telling them that the machines they had were equipped with trembler switches and would alert security to any attempts to beat, shake, or move a machine. So if you like to hit one, security is most likely recording your actions and use that info to negate any resulting jackpot.

Dave in Seattle. Feb-19-2020

Cracked glass.

On a VP machine. "Fire Monkey" found that his favorite machine had cracked glass,months later,same crack.I'll guess that that machine did not have shatterproof glass-just cheap glass.
He has a very large beard and he called his lady Sweet TI.

Kevin Lewis Feb-19-2020

The real damage...

But how many people have been seriously damaged by slot machines, often for more than $5,000?? Are the machines ever prosecuted?

Dave Feb-19-2020

SAN DIEGO

My best friend is normally very calm, cool and collected. However, he had way more than one too many a few months ago at Viejas in San Diego and after a few bad spins, he punched the glass and broke the whole screen. He got up and took an uber home and next time he came into the casino they talked to him and he didnt even know he had done the deed. They were very understanding as he is a regular and nothing like this had ever happened, but he had to pay for the repair. didnt get 86'ed or even reprimanded, they knew he was completely embarrassed about the whole thing so that was the end of it.

IdahoPat Feb-19-2020

Slot tournaments ...

... are where the machines take a real beating. There are some people who cannot discern between hitting the button as fast as you can, vs. hitting it as hard as you can. I've had to talk to a few people mid-round and let them know they had to ease up a little on their efforts.

But if anyone has taken a machine out of service because they vandalized it, it's all happened on graveyard shift, lol.

Gregory Feb-20-2020

Drives me nuts...

when I end up next to a VP player who has to pound on each hold button than slap the draw button, thinking that being aggressive is somehow going to change the outcome of the game.   I wonder if you pound each key on your computer, it will makes the internet faster or your bank balance larger?

John Lopez Feb-20-2020

Broken slot

A few years ago my brother broke a slot machine in anger in a PA casino. He just left, he thought he’d get away with it. Well he was playing with his card., so it was easy to track him down. They sent a letter to him, pay the damages or we will put out an arrest warrant. I think it was like $1,800 in damages. To this day he still goes to that casino.

Question of the Day - 19 February 2020

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