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Thread: Make Slot Machine Play safer for your money

  1. #1
    It's hard to put together the words "slot machine" and "safer for your money" because there probably isn't anything safe about slot machines when it comes to your money. They aren't called "one armed bandits" for no reason.

    But there are things that casinos and the game manufacturers can do to make it safer when we do play slot machines so that we don't get ripped off by criminals, if the one-armed bandits do wipe us out.

    What I am talking about are safeguards to protect players from losing money to "credit crooks."

    There are different ways that a crook can steal your money -- your credits -- when you are playing a slot machine.

    1. The most obvious way is that one crook distracts you while an accomplice hits your "cash out" button and steals the ticket that is printed out from your machine. This is why you should always be aware of your surroundings, and guard the cash out button when you turn away from the machine.

    2. The second was is that you accidentally leave credits on a machine -- you leave and someone else comes along and cashes them out. You might remember you left credits on the machine but by the time you come back to the machine, the credits are usually long gone.

    So here's the idea to make slot machines safer for your money:

    A. Have an "option" on the slot machines that allow you to establish an "account" on the slot machine. With the account, you load your money, play your credits, and when you leave the machine your account is locked. The account is accessed with your player's card and PIN.

    B. Have an option that when you insert your card, tickets that are printed out showing credits (dollars) are printed with your account number. These tickets would need verification to be cashed. They could not be cashed at automated tellers unless the player's card is also inserted (just like a bank ATM).

    These are not complex technologies. They are used now in ATMs and banking machines, so why not slots. I'm sure the casinos can afford to make these changes and players would certainly feel more secure playing if they knew these safeguards were in place.

    There is no downside to these safety measures. Uncle Sam and the IRS would know if you hit a jackpot even if you don't insert a player's card because of the W2G paperwork requirements. Casinos can already track coin-in and wins/losses with a player's card even if you don't want your account number added to a "ticket out" slip.

    And with the "account lock" on a machine, casinos would not have to "lock up" a machine when a player goes to see a show or goes to dinner because the player could lock up the machine himself without the aid of a floor person, and the technology could probably have a timer on it so the player could unlock the machine himself later when he returns.

    Why not?
    Last edited by Alan Mendelson; 02-12-2013 at 03:29 PM.

  2. #2
    Nothing needs to be done. The first scenario has never happened to me and it won't. I am not an unaware person, I would never play in a casino if I were, and anyone who is unaware and gets ripped off shouldn't be in a casino. If they get ripped off they get what they ask for.

    The second scenario? Finders keepers, losers weepers.

  3. #3
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    I am not an unaware person
    I don't know anyone who gets into a car and says "I think I am going to have an accident today" or "I think some drunk driver is going to broadside me today" or "I think I will have a blowout on the freeway at 60 mph today" or anyone who walks into a casino and says "I think someone is going to set me up to rob me today."

  4. #4
    That's correct. But some folks are better drivers than others, and some people take better care of their cars than others, thereby greatly reducing the probability of something tragic happening.

  5. #5
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    That's correct. But some folks are better drivers than others, and some people take better care of their cars than others, thereby greatly reducing the probability of something tragic happening.
    How ironic this is coming from someone who says luck is more important than skill in video poker. The next surprise is you will tell us to start playing "perfect strategy" because perfect strategy prepares us for a better return at the games we play.

  6. #6
    I am a very good driver. But I was sitting at a stop sign and got creamed by 2 cars and got out of the car (they still dont know how) just in time. It was a miracle I survived and it cost me surgery and years of rehab. Being a great driver didn't keep me out of any accident Rob.

  7. #7
    Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson View Post
    How ironic this is coming from someone who says luck is more important than skill in video poker. The next surprise is you will tell us to start playing "perfect strategy" because perfect strategy prepares us for a better return at the games we play.
    You're off on one of your tangents of unrelated events again. In VP, luck IS far more important than skill. Not so in driving or car care. Why would you compare the two?

  8. #8
    Originally Posted by regnis View Post
    I am a very good driver. But I was sitting at a stop sign and got creamed by 2 cars and got out of the car (they still dont know how) just in time. It was a miracle I survived and it cost me surgery and years of rehab. Being a great driver didn't keep me out of any accident Rob.
    As am I, and someone totaled my SHO two years ago. But I also know of no one who has driven a car anything close to the miles I put on in the past 14 years with all the weekly trips to and from all over Nevada from Phx., and it's the only accident I've had. Conclusion: I am an excellent, very aware driver, and the only incidents expected are when the other guy makes a mistake.

  9. #9
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    and the only incidents expected are when the other guy makes a mistake.
    This comment reminded me of a writing blooper I made when covering the death of former New York Governor and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. I was at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City when Rocky's long time friend and spokesman came over to me (I was with CBS News at the time) and told me that Rocky had just succumbed from his heart attack earlier that night.

    I quickly rushed into the waiting room and grabbed a pay phone and inserted the change and dialed. Within a couple of minutes I was recording my phone-in report for the hourly network newscast, and I said: "This fatal heart attack was Rockefeller's first." Meredeth Viera was standing next to me, she was a reporter with WCBS Channel 2, and when I finished she said, "good report." But later I realized my blunder which is stored on a CBS radio news archive tape somewhere: You can only have ONE fatal heart attack.

    And so, I reflect on Rob's comment:

    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    and the only incidents expected are when the other guy makes a mistake.
    And I say, you only need one other bad driver to kill you just once.

    But let's return to the real issue: safety devices in slot machines to protect players. If the technology is here, is simple, and is currently in use in things as common as simple ATM machines, why not use them in slot and video poker machines? I don't think a good reason is because Rob Singer says he doesn't make mistakes. And Rob Singer never had a fatal heart attack. And Rob Singer never had a fatal car crash. And I hope he doesn't.

  10. #10
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    You're off on one of your tangents of unrelated events again. In VP, luck IS far more important than skill. Not so in driving or car care. Why would you compare the two?
    In many ways they are quite comparable. Of course Singer would claim they aren't. He promotes bad VP techniques and claims that they are all covered by magical good luck. It's quite hilarious when you think about it.

  11. #11
    I think this is a good idea as long as it would remain an option for the player. We’re probably going to see something like this in the future but I fear it won’t remain optional and everyone will eventually be “forced” to play with a card—in the name of player “safety”. But It seems to me that every time we demand more safety we give up a little more in the way of freedom.

    What happened to me was, ultimately, my own fault and I admit that. It’s not like I was “jacked” for my money (or credits), I simply forgot them at the machine. If I did the same thing at an ATM and the next person to use it saw a $20 bill “hanging” there and took it is that illegal? Probably not. Unethical…perhaps?

    And if I went back to the bank and said “I think I forgot a $20 bill at your ATM can you help me?” What do you think they would say? Probably something like, “…well, sorry sir but that is your own fault…now if you were robbed while using our ATM, well, that’s a different story!”

    Of course being that I live in Canada, I don’t have to worry about my government and the Canada Revenue Agency (our equivalent of the IRS) because all lottery and gaming winnings are considered winfall profits and are not subject to taxation. Although any transaction of $10,000 and up must be reported to the government.

  12. #12
    Most casinos that I know of require a players card for poker tournaments. The WSOP requires a players card for every tournament including circuit events. All of the cainos here in Southern Cal require a players card with the exception of Hawaiian Gardens -- I played in a few of their tournaments a few years ago and I don't think I had to show a card, but they might have changed their rules.

    You raise a good question, though: could casinos eventually require all players to have a players card? I think that would happen only if the government required it. I don't think casinos would want to be bothered with the extra paperwork. Could you imagine the lines being any longer than they are at any Total Rewards desk in any casino? When I go with friends, I have "diamonds" join me as part of "my party" at the 7Stars window because even the Diamond lines are too long.

    Canucknut, did you contact the casino yet????

  13. #13
    No one will ever be required to use a player's card in casinos by any company or government. Obama's got less than four years.

  14. #14
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    No one will ever be required to use a player's card in casinos by any company or government. Obama's got less than four years.
    But I think its the Republicans who oppose casino gambling more than the Democrats. I wonder if the Republicans might be the ones to push for more taxation of casino profits, and winnings by players?? Remember, the Republicans and Conservatives are blocking online poker, online Interstate gambling too. The Republicans shot down the bills proposed by the Democrats.

  15. #15
    I personally believe both crazy parties are talking behind closed doors about how and when to get online gambling going. The tax revenue would be astounding.

  16. #16
    No, I haven't been back since the incident occured. Right now my schedule doesn't allow me to visit the casino more than once every week or two.

    Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson View Post
    Most casinos that I know of require a players card for poker tournaments. The WSOP requires a players card for every tournament including circuit events. All of the cainos here in Southern Cal require a players card with the exception of Hawaiian Gardens -- I played in a few of their tournaments a few years ago and I don't think I had to show a card, but they might have changed their rules.

    You raise a good question, though: could casinos eventually require all players to have a players card? I think that would happen only if the government required it. I don't think casinos would want to be bothered with the extra paperwork. Could you imagine the lines being any longer than they are at any Total Rewards desk in any casino? When I go with friends, I have "diamonds" join me as part of "my party" at the 7Stars window because even the Diamond lines are too long.

    Canucknut, did you contact the casino yet????

  17. #17
    I'd probably agree with you, here. The Republicans typically want more control and restriction over moral/social issues (like gambling, drugs, prostitution, etc.) but want more freedom in the economy (e.g. lower taxes, etc.). The Democrats, by contrast, are the opposite: more freedom in personal morality but more control of the economy. The libertarians (like myself, John Stossel, Judge Andrew Napolitano) believe in freedom for BOTH morality and the economy.

    Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson View Post
    But I think its the Republicans who oppose casino gambling more than the Democrats. I wonder if the Republicans might be the ones to push for more taxation of casino profits, and winnings by players?? Remember, the Republicans and Conservatives are blocking online poker, online Interstate gambling too. The Republicans shot down the bills proposed by the Democrats.

  18. #18
    Originally Posted by Canucknut View Post
    No, I haven't been back since the incident occured. Right now my schedule doesn't allow me to visit the casino more than once every week or two.
    $2080 is certainly worth a phone call to security. Can you recall the day, time and machine?

  19. #19
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    I personally believe both crazy parties are talking behind closed doors about how and when to get online gambling going. The tax revenue would be astounding.
    I recently read a long complicated article (sorry-I don't remember where) which essentially said that the reason our government went after the on-line Poker companies, as well as several of the larger sports betting companies, was to enable the large Vegas casinos to corner the market on on-line gaming when it is legalized here. They want Caesars et.al to get the on-line gaming business instead of the foreign or off-shore companies.

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