5d. Re: Loss of ticket in machine
Posted by: "dipy911" dwoods49090@everestkc.net dipy911
Date: Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:35 am ((PST))It was at 2300 quarters when I stopped for the night. I changed the
machine back to All American so everyone could see the ace low
straight flush. Normally, I cash out and pull my card and wrap the
ticket around my card. This time, I just pull my card and place it
with my hotel key card. I proceed to leave machine to go to my car to
get my overnight bag. Halfway there, I realize I hadn't cashed out
and proceeded to run back to my machine. About 2-3 minutes was all it
took. The guy sitting in the bank diagonal 2-3 feet away didn't see
anything. The machine was still on All American, only now it also
showed the 2300 credits as a cash out. I call an attendant and they
call security. They did file theft charges and if the guy ever comes
back and they catch him charges will be filed. The type of person
that does this probably won't have the money anymore. Security
verified a person cashed out and immediately went and cashed out and
left the building, all in 3 minutes. Don't people know that they
should put the ticket in a couple of other machines first to confuse
security? The action of immediately leaving the building implies that
they know it was illegal.
Dear Dippy (sorry, but with the topic, and the email address, I couldn't resist)...
If the casino has documentation of theft, and will provide you with some paperwork, you may have a chance for filing it as a theft loss - I know we once lost a wallet in NY, and with a police report, we were able to do something like that (but that was 30 years ago, the details are vague, and the laws may have changed). Check with your tax professional -- but I'm pretty sure you'll need something such as a police report or some paperwork / documentation from the casino at a minimum, just a good story won't work, I'm quite sure.
I certainly don't know how receptive the IRS is to allowing such a deduction, even if it's legitimate - whether they have no choice whatsoever if the documentation is there, or if, in a case such as yours, they can choose to say that it wasn't a theft from their perspective, because you walked away (in our situation, my wife took her wallet out and put it on the counter in a dept. store, turned away for a minute for some reason, and when she looked back, it was gone).
--BG
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