Can the Casinos Rig Drawings That Are Supposed To Be Random?

When a casino in Nevada offers a contest (drawing, jackpots given at random times, etc.), is the contest regulated by the state Gaming Board or do the casinos have carte blanche as to how and who receives the prizes? In other words, can a casino "fix" the giveaway so that only certain people can "win" it even though it is presented as a random event?

Nevada casinos learned an expensive lesson a couple of decades ago, though the Venetian was the one that had to actually pay for it.

In this case, however, it wasn't the gaming regulators who "caught" the Venetian rigging a drawing. Rather, the Venetian confessed (though the diplomatic term that was used was "self-reported") to fixing a "random " drawing to reward a high roller who’d lost big at the casino. Las Vegas Sands paid a big fine. You can read the whole story in a QoD we answered in August 2017.

Michael Lawton of the Nevada Gaming Control Board says that, yes, the board regulates these contests. He elaborates, “All Group 1 licensees are required to comply with the minimum control standards (MICS), version 8. MICS for all areas can be found at this link: You will find specific standards applicable to drawings, giveaways, and contests/tournaments, which are replicated in the various revenue-center MICS (e.g., slots, bingo, keno, table games, and race and sports).”

Officially at least, you can participate in a casino contest without trepidation.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Why did the two downtown McDonald's close?

Comments

Donzack Mar-15-2022

Electronic drawings

Electronic drawings always trepidate me. Maybe it’s just living in the most corrupt city,county and state in the country. Chicago,Cook, Illinois.

Gregory Mar-15-2022

drawings

I've done fairly well at these drawings.  When Boyd's Young at Heart promotion was still good, I won the hundred dollar drawing a couple of times.   In January I got a 1099-misc from El Cortez for $1600 because of a bunch of drawings I won in 2021.   I am not a local.  When I go, I play pretty hard and concentrate my play with that casino to build up as many entries as I can.  The only problem with drawings is that there does not seem to be a way to deduct your winnings at the end.  Drawings are fun, but I would rather win $5000 on a slot than $5000 in a drawing.

tgabrielli Mar-15-2022

Of course they're rigged!

Sorry, but you can't convince me otherwise. I play heavily at one local casino where they have weekly weekend drawings. Just about every week, the same 3 or 4 names are drawn as winners. Almost Every. Single. Week! I inquired about it and was told that these people are heavy players and have a lot of entries in the drawings. Well, there are a lot of heavy players in the casino, but they're seldom called. It's gotten to the point where when I hear one of these names called, I cash out, leave the casino and go next door to the Suncoast to play. I know these drawings are supposed to draw players into the casino, but it is having the opposite effect. I am thisclose to leaving this casino and taking my play elsewhere only because these same people are called consistently. So yeah, I think these drawings are rigged.

[email protected] Mar-15-2022

Questions

Gregory - I don't understand your comment.  When are you ever able to deduct winnings? You still can deduct losses against winnings even if the winnings are from a drawing.

tgabrielli - if you are certain of this, why don't you report the casino to the Nevada Gaming Control Board?  Sounds like they could face some serious consequences if they are rigging the drawings.  At a minimum, it should result in an outside audit of the contests.

Donzack Mar-15-2022

Metal detectors

I had to go through a metal detector to enter the Rivers casino in Des Plaines Illinois. Any such thing in Nevada?

Gtojohnr Mar-15-2022

Rigged

Although I nor anyone else can prove it, I am “reasonable sure” some of these drawings are rigged

Randall Ward Mar-15-2022

drawings

I've participated in lots of drawings where you get entries based on play, I think most people don't realize how many points/entries a high roller can accumulate.

Larry Stone Mar-15-2022

Yonkers NY

In 2009 at Empire City Casino, Yonkers Raceway NY.  The promotions manager had a hot seat drawing.  She told her friends and relatives where to sit at a certain time so they would win the prizes.  Believe it or not!  You can look it up!

Mar-15-2022

"Leaderboard" scam

On the East Coast some casinos run the "Leaderboard Scam" promotions where they tell you to increase your number on the "Leaderboard" and win prizes. Each casino knows who their higher playing gamblers are, and are likely to 'win' the top 100 top prizes or the top 500 prizes.

O2bnVegas Mar-15-2022

Rigged

Rigged. I don't enter tournaments or drawings anymore because I believe many if not most are rigged.  Can't prove it, of course.
Candy

Jxs Mar-15-2022

@Donzak

When did you see metal detectors there? I usually go about once a week and they’ve never had them, but I haven’t gone in about 2 weeks so maybe they’re new? Or are you just talking about the turnstiles that you go through?

Randy5t Dec-16-2022

They are rigged

Nothing will convince me that these drawings are fair. I live in Reno and a new casino opened up called legends bay. I’ve put through over 100 grand in play since they opened just three months ago. The casino is empty 99 percent of the time and I’m usually the only one playing.  I’ve never gotten called for their electronic drawings. Has to be rigged. No one is that unlucky.

Question of the Day - 15 March 2022

Comments