Abandoned money (was Digest Number 1674)

[Dan2]

First, I apologize for not changing the subject when I first
responded to the story of the Horseshoe not helping a player who was
stupid enough to leave a machine unattended with credits. Now, some
snips from Bill Velek's thoughtful response, and further comments:

> Will I ever play at Harrah's again after hearing this story? No.

The story makes no difference to me, and probably doesn't make any
difference to most people. I figure that I'll never be in that position
because I'm not that foolish and careless. I play where the odds are
best and the comps are good.

True, most of us would never be that careless, but this is only one
such story pointing out the differences between how various casinos
treat their customers. If a casino treats a customer like this in one
instance, it's likely to do the same in other cases (such as the
story about a TITO machine putting out a blank ticket). I will
continue to generally avoid properties that treat customers only as
fodder for their money machine. There are a few casinos that still
treat customers as people.

> I'll

play at casinos such as Sam's Town who try to help out unfortunate
players. Here's a suggestion for some web site manager -- start a
rating system for casinos, keeping track of stories such as this.

How many people would even bother to check the ratings about that sort
of a thing. Seriously, I would put good parking on a higher level
myself, but to each their own I guess.

But many of us knowledgeable players would check the ratings, and the
publicity might spur some managers to clean up their act.

> My recommendation: If something like that happens to you, ask the

casino to call Gaming Control. They are required to do so at a
player's request. If they won't call, the phone number is 486-2020.

What is gaming control supposed to do about it then? I'm really curious...

Gaming Control might do nothing if they were actually called in, but
the suggestion to call them in often triggers a different attitude on
the part of casino managers.

Dan

···

--
Dan Paymar, author of "Video Poker - Optimum Play"
Editor and publisher of "Video Poker Times" newsletter
Visit my web site at www.OptimumPlay.com

"Chance favors the prepared mind"
- Louis Pasteur

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bill_Velek1]

All valid points that you have made, below, Dan. I can't dispute any of them.

Cheers.

Bill

Dan Paymar wrote:

···

First, I apologize for not changing the subject when I first
responded to the story of the Horseshoe not helping a player who was
stupid enough to leave a machine unattended with credits. Now, some
snips from Bill Velek's thoughtful response, and further comments:

> > Will I ever play at Harrah's again after hearing this story? No.
>
>The story makes no difference to me, and probably doesn't make any
>difference to most people. I figure that I'll never be in that position
>because I'm not that foolish and careless. I play where the odds are
>best and the comps are good.

True, most of us would never be that careless, but this is only one
such story pointing out the differences between how various casinos
treat their customers. If a casino treats a customer like this in one
instance, it's likely to do the same in other cases (such as the
story about a TITO machine putting out a blank ticket). I will
continue to generally avoid properties that treat customers only as
fodder for their money machine. There are a few casinos that still
treat customers as people.

> > I'll
>> play at casinos such as Sam's Town who try to help out unfortunate
>> players. Here's a suggestion for some web site manager -- start a
>> rating system for casinos, keeping track of stories such as this.
>
>How many people would even bother to check the ratings about that sort
>of a thing. Seriously, I would put good parking on a higher level
>myself, but to each their own I guess.

But many of us knowledgeable players would check the ratings, and the
publicity might spur some managers to clean up their act.

> > My recommendation: If something like that happens to you, ask the
>> casino to call Gaming Control. They are required to do so at a
>> player's request. If they won't call, the phone number is 486-2020.
>
>What is gaming control supposed to do about it then? I'm really curious...

Gaming Control might do nothing if they were actually called in, but
the suggestion to call them in often triggers a different attitude on
the part of casino managers.

[whitejeeps]

Hi all

let's look at a place the size of Mirage. I'll bet someone gets
ripped off 4 or 5 times a day maybe more. Of course this is just a
guess. But, how much time can a property devote to this type of
thing. I would guess that a purse is snatched just as often. Now lets
think about all the things that happen in the rooms where security is
needed. These places are little cities. Somehow I think someone
losing $70 because he neglected to watch his machine is low proirity.

I lost my day runner book one time in AC. It's pocket size and I
carry my credit cards in it. Secutity came and escorted me to a phone
and insisted I call and cancel my credit cards, on the spot. They had
the phone numbers for me. It hangs out of pocket and looks like a
wallet. Was it lifted? I asked about looking at camera tapes. They
indicated they didn't have the time. Too many incidents to keep up
with. An honest answer. The rub in my case, I had $500 back up cash
in my book. I did report that to security too. A happy ending. My
host called me later in day and issued me a cash comp for $500 I
lost. Two days later security 2 casinos down from where I lost book
called. They had my book, cards, license etc. Everything but the 500.
They mailed book to me.

In thinking over this small incident I realize the casino had 4 or 5
man hours in my case. Two security showed at first. We lookedthrough
nearby garbage cans. They walked into nearby restroom. Then one guy
went with me to cancel cards. I'm sure someone made some kind of a
small report. Hell, I got better treatment than the regular police
might give me if my car would have been stolen.

Gee folks, I'm the last one to defend a casino. But, did you ever
think the casino security might just not have the time.

Cheers....Jeep

All valid points that you have made, below, Dan. I can't dispute

any of

them.

Cheers.

Bill

Dan Paymar wrote:

> First, I apologize for not changing the subject when I first
> responded to the story of the Horseshoe not helping a player who

was

> stupid enough to leave a machine unattended with credits. Now,

some

> snips from Bill Velek's thoughtful response, and further comments:
>
> > > Will I ever play at Harrah's again after hearing this story?

No.

> >
> >The story makes no difference to me, and probably doesn't make

any

> >difference to most people. I figure that I'll never be in that

position

> >because I'm not that foolish and careless. I play where the

odds are

> >best and the comps are good.
>
> True, most of us would never be that careless, but this is only

one

> such story pointing out the differences between how various

casinos

> treat their customers. If a casino treats a customer like this in

one

> instance, it's likely to do the same in other cases (such as the
> story about a TITO machine putting out a blank ticket). I will
> continue to generally avoid properties that treat customers only

as

> fodder for their money machine. There are a few casinos that still
> treat customers as people.
>
> > > I'll
> >> play at casinos such as Sam's Town who try to help out

unfortunate

> >> players. Here's a suggestion for some web site manager --

start a

> >> rating system for casinos, keeping track of stories such as

this.

> >
> >How many people would even bother to check the ratings about

that sort

> >of a thing. Seriously, I would put good parking on a higher

level

> >myself, but to each their own I guess.
>
> But many of us knowledgeable players would check the ratings, and

the

> publicity might spur some managers to clean up their act.
>
> > > My recommendation: If something like that happens to you,

ask the

> >> casino to call Gaming Control. They are required to do so at a
> >> player's request. If they won't call, the phone number is 486-

2020.

> >
> >What is gaming control supposed to do about it then? I'm really
> curious...
>
> Gaming Control might do nothing if they were actually called in,

but

> the suggestion to call them in often triggers a different

attitude on

···

> the part of casino managers.