How Much Do Casinos Make off Uncashed Slot Tickets?

How much do casinos make off uncashed slot tickets? I came home with one for four cents and I'm sure lots of people come home with larger amounts.

According to numbers we’ve seen, gamblers in Nevada lose, forget or don’t bother to cash, damage, throw away, leave in the machine, or allow to expire slot vouchers worth between $7 million and $12 million every year.

Depending on the casino’s policy, tickets expire in 60 to 180 days; most casinos will cash tickets beyond the expiration dates, though usually only if they’re presented in person, and they’re within their rights not to. Tickets can also be mailed in and, in most cases, a check for the amount is mailed back.

With the advent of ticket-in ticket-out machines, the 2011 Nevada Legislature passed a bill that hands over to the state 75% of the value of uncashed tickets for use in its General Fund; the other 25% goes to the casinos' bottom lines. The revenue sharing is administered by the Gaming Control Board. The casinos file a form that states the amount of unclaimed slot tickets and write checks for 75% of it.

A story in the Las Vegas Sun tracked down the totals for abandoned tickets for fiscal 2016: $12 million worth statewide. The state received $8.78 million, the casinos $3.22 million. A little more than $7 million came from the Strip, a little less than $1 million from downtown Las Vegas, Washoe County turned in $900,000, the rest of Clark County (not including the Strip, downtown, North Las Vegas, and the Boulder Strip) $651,393, the Boulder Strip around $500,000, South Tahoe $223,275, and North Las Vegas $193,640.

Just the totals are enumerated; there are no statistics for the average amount of abandoned tickets.

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Dave Aug-29-2019

Charity

 Don’t some casinos have a box where you can deposit the TITOs to be donated to charity? If so, does that benefit the casino in any way? I.e. can the casino claim the 25% that they would’ve kept if the TITO was abandoned, as a charitable tax deduction?

Randall Ward Aug-29-2019

tickets

I cash mine in, don't think I've ever carried 1 home. Even for pennies, the experience of turning 100s into change is good reminder to stay grounded

Straski Aug-29-2019

Timing

I try not to bet sports bet the prior night to leaving unless I leave later the next morning due to the sports book not opening until 10 in some cases. I have not cashed several bets that way over the years. Big betting action like the SuperBowl or College Playoff finals can leave long lines to cash winnings also.

Dave in Seattle. Aug-29-2019

Mail'em in?

Sometimes,I forget to cash in a TITO at the casino.
Great that they can be mailed instead of showing up in person.
  I left Las Vegas in a hurry once with over $1,000 in casino chips.I mailed 'em back to the MSS and they sent me a check. COOL!

Larry Stone Aug-29-2019

return funds

one time i lost $100 at a casino.  i wrote them a letter and they sent me a check for $100.  Just kidding!  April Fools in August!

Roy Furukawa Aug-29-2019

Sports Wagers

@Straski, sports books have allowed mailing-in of winning tickets for decades as far as I know (instructions printed on the back of tickets) and even keno tickets you could do that under certain circumstances like playing over 20 games. Of course you have costs to send it in certified mail, etc., but if it's a great bet that'll pay off, I'd make the bet and send in the winner.

Question of the Day - 29 August 2019

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