Complaints about Saturday night's $50,000 drawing at Rincon Casino

[Alan Mendelson]

I guess there are always going to be complaints about a random drawing at a casino, and now the complaints are coming in about this past Saturday's $50,000 cash drawing at Harrah's Rincon in northern San Diego County.

After the name of the winning player is drawn, that player has ten minutes (I think it's ten minutes) to show up at the site of the drawing which is in a corner of the casino to claim the prize.

According to some posters on the Harrah's Rincon Facebook page, the winner showed up a few seconds late and there are some players who said she should have been disqualified. Others said the way to the drawing site was blocked by a huge crowd near the drawing point.

I was not at the the casino for Saturday's drawing but I was there for the January drawing and I can just imagine how crowded the area could have been. I also think rules are rules and if there is a countdown to a deadline, a countdown to a deadline should be honored. But on the other hand, if the player/winner was blocked from reaching the drawing site by the crowd, there are circumstances where the prize should still be awarded -- don't you think?

I would hate to think of a winner being tackled and detained by a jealous player who tackles them over by the high limit room so they can't make the dash over to the drawing site on the other side of the casino!

Perhaps a change in the rules would be appropriate, such as the winner only having to identify himself to a floor person or supervisor? What if the winner is in the middle of a crucial poker hand? What if the winner faints from the shock of hearing their name? What if the winner becomes sick and runs to the restroom to throw up after hearing their name?

On the other hand, a time limit of ten minutes can also be considered reasonable.

On the Facebook page I also mentioned that perhaps restricting the contest to only those who show up for the actual drawing might be unfair to other players who played a lot during the month and scored a lot of points (entries) but failed to make it to the casino for some reason. Should all of their play be automatically invalidated because they just couldn't make it for one night?

How about a drawing that involved all players during the month, and then giving the winning player 24 hours to claim their prize? How about drawing two alternate winners if the first player drawn can't get to the casino to claim their prize?

The bottom line is I think there will always be critics and complaints. But overall I think the promotion and contest is fair.

But I can't wait to see what happens on New Year's Eve. That is when I can imagine the winner of the million dollar drawing being tackled and subdued and stuffed into a bathroom stall by jealous players hoping that they will be called in the second drawing ten minutes later!

People can get crazy when a million dollars is drawn at a casino!

[Rob.Singer]

Alan, the winner of the million dollars is already determined. It's these $50k prizes that are going out to random people.

[Alan Mendelson]

Alan, the winner of the million dollars is already determined. It's these $50k prizes that are going out to random people.

This is begging for an explanation and details. So go ahead and explain yourself.

[Rob.Singer]

Not much there, except when a casino that has a parent company who's in constant dire straights but is impressively expanding in a bankrupt state choking on taxes and illegal immigration costs, puts up a million dollar prize after 12 months of huge promotional profits & smaller "giveaways" that serve as a smokescreen, it only makes sense that this big year-end prize is going to someone "pre-determined & appropriate" for the resort's agenda.

[Alan Mendelson]

it only makes sense that this big year-end prize is going to someone "pre-determined & appropriate" for the resort's agenda.

Anyone who wins this prize is going to fit the resort's agenda. They will become the star of Rincon advertising for the next. Expect to see ads such as "Suzy of San Diego became a millionaire here!"

They already have a giant wall inside the casino with large (not large, GIANT) spaces for photos of the monthly $50,000 cash winners, plus a billboard-sized spot for the million dollar winner's photo.

I am sure that this promotion will pay for itself by bringing in players. Yes Rob, it will bring in players on Tuesdays who will play for triple-entries, it will bring in players on the drawing dates just as it has so the casino is mobbed (the night of January's promotion just about every seat in the casino was taken), and it will make people bet more, play longer.

I wouldn't call this a million dollar cost for the casino, but instead a profit maker for the casino.

[Rob.Singer]

Anyone who wins this prize is going to fit the resort's agenda. They will become the star of Rincon advertising for the next. Expect to see ads such as "Suzy of San Diego became a millionaire here!"

They already have a giant wall inside the casino with large (not large, GIANT) spaces for photos of the monthly $50,000 cash winners, plus a billboard-sized spot for the million dollar winner's photo.

I am sure that this promotion will pay for itself by bringing in players. Yes Rob, it will bring in players on Tuesdays who will play for triple-entries, it will bring in players on the drawing dates just as it has so the casino is mobbed (the night of January's promotion just about every seat in the casino was taken), and it will make people bet more, play longer.

I wouldn't call this a million dollar cost for the casino, but instead a profit maker for the casino.

Probably so, but they'll definitely make a bundle on this thing.

Are you going to try and be there for the million dollar drawing? Do you think, based on the crowds for the $50k drawings, that you could even get in? Or maybe you should book your room right now.

[Alan Mendelson]

Are you going to try and be there for the million dollar drawing? Do you think, based on the crowds for the $50k drawings, that you could even get in? Or maybe you should book your room right now.

I knew when this promotion was announced that it was very unlikely I would be there for New Year's Eve. We don't like to travel New Year's weekend, and being in a casino is not where I want to be with big crowds and high table minimums and high prices. I gave up on going to casinos for New Year's about 8 years ago when at Caesars Palace we couldn't get our beds made or clean towels for two full days during New Year's Weekend. And that's another story which I have told before on the web.

But Rob you raise a serious issue about the crowds for the $50K drawings. I wasn't there for the February drawing but I was there for the January drawing and it was hard to find a seat at a machine or a table. New Year's Eve is regularly a jammed-packed night and when you add in the million dollar drawing plus locals who do not stay in the hotel, I am wondering if people will not be allowed into the casino building for the drawing. If that happens what happens to the validity and fairness of the drawing?

I have images of some lawyer being kept out of the building by security who is told via cell phone by a buddy inside that his name for the million bucks has just been called -- and the guy can't get past the security guards to get in to claim the money. What follows is a huge legal fight as the lawyer sues for being barred while the clock time expires and another name is called for the million dollars.

And even if security does not enforce some capacity limits on the casino, imagine the chaos in the building and imagine how the "winner" will have to get through that sea of humanity or inhumanity to reach the awards desk to claim the prize.

You're right if you think this could turn into a nightmare for crowd control.

Another of the reasons why I'll never go back to Vegas is that I still vividly recall the lines in the Forum shops to get food to-go from the restaurants and the even longer lines to get a seat.

Having the million dollar drawing on New Year's Eve could turn out to be a disaster. There comes a point of diminishing returns when big crowds hurt business instead of helping business.

[Alan Mendelson]

I heard from Rincon management this afternoon and they told me that there will be five (5) different locations where a winner can notify the event staff that they are present to claim their prize, and it won't be necessary to make the mad dash to the awards presentation desk.

That will relieve some of the chaos at the future drawings.

But I wonder if they are making plans for possible over-capacity attendance at the casino? If a drawing night in January and February can mean a crowded and packed casino, imagine what it might be like on New Year's Eve when you have the usual New Year's Eve jam along with the million dollar drawing jam!

I'm sure there must be some kind of capacity limits for the casino and the complex?

[bigfoot66]

I am at rincon and was at the total rewards desk. Mentioned casually how busy they would be on NYE..., imagine if you guys get over capacity and there is a crowd outside when they do the drawing, can you imagine the potential lawsuits? I was outside and they woul not let me in to claim the prize, etc. she said, " oh my god, I find even think about that! That must be why the NYE drawing is the only one where you don't have to be present to win!" I pushed for more details but that was all she knew. Interesting...

[Alan Mendelson]

That must be why the NYE drawing is the only one where you don't have to be present to win!" I pushed for more details but that was all she knew. Interesting...

That's enough to get me to drive down there right now to snoop around. Thanks for the info.

[bigfoot66]

I wish I'd checked in here last night, would have been fun to shake your hand. You get any more info Alan?

[JamieV]

I was thinking the same bigfoot66. Sorry if that sounds weird Alan lol but I would like to shake your hand too. I will be at Rincon tonight if you guys around, good luck!