Does Whoever Hits the Spin Button Really Get the Jackpot?

Is it true that the person hitting the spin button on a slot machine or deal button in video poker is entitled to any hand pay jackpot? I heard of a case in California where a man had his lady friend hit the spin button for luck. The jackpot hit. She claimed the jackpot was hers. After the tape was reviewed, she was indeed determined to be the winner. She was paid despite the violent objections of her friend. Would this happen in Nevada?

Yes. It's true. Whoever pressed the button gets the payout.

It doesn’t matter who’s sitting in the chair, or standing next to or behind the machine. It doesn’t matter whose money it is. It doesn't matter if one of the parties produces a contract stipulating the split with the other party or parties. It doesn’t even matter if it's the person actually playing the machine; if a stranger happens to walk by, slap the button, and hit a big jackpot, it’s his or hers (though we suppose other issues might come into play in that situation.)

This is the policy in almost all casinos -- California, Nevada, and everywhere else we know of.

If there’s ever a legal problem, casinos stick to policy, even if the person who doesn’t get paid says he provided the money for the play and/or the players had an agreement. There have been many many lawsuits about this over the years.

In one case we followed in 2017, a man and his "girlfriend" were playing a slot machine at the Seminole Hard Rock in Fort Lauderdale. His money. Her finger. She pushed the spin button and hit a $100,000 jackpot. Casino surveillance confirmed that she’d done the deed. She not only collected, but also asked security to walk her out to her car to prevent him from harassing her — and so much that relationship. In fact, we heard that the man couldn’t find a lawyer to take the case, which says a lot about the policy being quite clear and firm.

A casino might hedge a little, but only if the two players have a single club account or the same last name. In the overwhelming number of cases, the casino follows the exact policy.

The moral of the story: Don’t ever let anyone push your button, unless you're prepared for the potential consequences.

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Comments

Kevin Lewis Dec-11-2022

The acid test

This is a surefire way to find out exactly what you're worth to your girlfriend. Push the button, sweetie, for luck. Okay. Tee hee. (spin spin spin) Oh wow, $50! I'm keeping the jackpot, and I'm leaving you.

Dave_Miller_DJTB Dec-11-2022

But what if…

If the person who pushed the button agrees that it’s the other persons money and their win, will the casino prepare the paperwork in the other person’s name?

[email protected] Dec-11-2022

Dave

In that case they could just split the money according to their agreement regardless of what the casino does.  I'm sure they'd also agree to pay their share of the taxes, since the one who received the payment would have to report it.

By the way, this could be a great tax avoidance strategy.  Have someone who makes little or no money hit the button.  If a jackpot is hit, they'd likely owe little to no taxes.  You could agree in advance to pay them a small amount for providing the button hitting service.

Bob Dancer Dec-11-2022

it depends

A major caveat that went unstated in this QOD is that casinos pay the person who hit the button IF THE PARTIES INVOLVED DON'T AGREE OTHERWISE. 

So, if there's a dispute, yes, the person who hit the button gets the money.

But if there's no dispute, the person who hands his/her ID to the attendant is the one who gets paid. Casinos generally want to process the jackpot in the way that provides them the least grief. 

If Bonnie and I are playing together, and she wants to avoid W-2Gs at all costs (we file separately), if she hits a jackpot while I'm there, I'll just say "get lost!" She'll go to the restroom or somewhere until after the jackpot is paid and then rejoin me. This has happened numerous times, at numerous casinos, with no problem.

At other casinos, prior playing, I've told the slot shift manager that xxxxx and I will both be playing on my card, on my money, and I get all W-2Gs. Most have said, "sure, no problem." If they had a problem, I played alone.

Lotel Dec-11-2022

Free money??

So if you see someone at a high limit machine look at their  phone or sipping their  drink you can reach in  an press the button and whatever the payout is yours?   sounds like something a thief  or homeless can do. This can't be right.

Ray Dec-11-2022

Bob? What?

I take it from the comments by Bob Dancer that in general, the casinos don't even look at the video UNLESS there is a dispute. But I am surprised that Bob would offer his admittance to a "juggle the tax forms" method of playing with others.

Roy Furukawa Dec-11-2022

Money, Money, Money

I guess some people will sell their souls for money. Sad but true. Then again, if it's someone's GF running off with the money, I'm sure she was likely pushing their buttons already.

RichM Dec-11-2022

Not always

Bob,

True, but some casinos review video of all jackpots over a certain amount and award the jackpot to that person no matter what. I had it happen playing with my wife on one card (we file taxes jointly and it doesn't even make a difference). They gave me paperwork, watched the video, brought over suits to inquire about the situation, and redid all the paperwork.

LynGHS Dec-12-2022

Different Experience

Sometimes I invite a friend to join me in HL (better drinks, share a comped meal, have some company, etc) and I allow them to push buttons with me - we both really enjoy it. This was never a problem (all W2-Gs are processed in my name regardless of who hit the button), until about 8yrs ago. I was playing at a casino that I frequented (most all personnel knew me), and my friend happened to hit a taxable. The employee absolutely insisted on putting the W2-G in his name (I got the $$). I told my host about it later and he was able to get the W2-G changed to my name. He told me they have what is called "The Known Player Rule" and that they are allowed to give the W2-G to the "Known Player." 
Fast forward a couple of years and the same situation happened at another casino I frequent. They absolutely insisted on giving the W2-G to my friend. Knowing it would affect him tax-wise, I gave him 20%. 
I have continued to do this and have never had an issue since.

Lucky Dec-12-2022

Coment

Lotel, I was thinking the same thing.  That has to be theft, but I cannot see a casino giving the money to a thief or homeless person that came up behind you, reached in and pressed the button.  As for taxes, I thought that unless you listed your occupation as a gambler, gambling winnings amount cannot be deducted from other than receipts or proof of money spent gambling.

Russell Beyer Dec-12-2022

This explains something

A couple of years ago, I was playing a slot at Caesars when (what appeared to be) a homeless lady sat down next to me.  She wasn't playing her slot machine, but was watching me intensely.  When I won a round of bonus spins, she spoke for the first time and begged me to hit the spin button.  I said "no," and she continued to sit there, not gambling at all for the rest of the time I was at the slot.  I guess she was looking to get "free money" from my machine.

Question of the Day - 11 December 2022

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