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Ask the Slot Expert: Treat tickets like cash

30 May 2012

This is what happened after I cashed out on a slot machine.

I had won $787. I was going to get my money from the cashier, but the casino announced an emergency and everybody needed to evacuate. When I got near the exit door, I placed my ticket in my fanny pouch.

The next thing I know, a girl elbowed me. Another stepped on my foot and they ran out the door. They looked happy.

When I got out the exit door, I saw that my fanny pouch zipper was broken and my ticket was gone. Those girls either picked my pocket or picked up the ticket after it fell out of my pouch.

Security said they saw who cashed in my ticket, but there was nothing they could do.

Lesson learned. It hurt to lose that ticket. Hold onto your winning tickets!

Ouch. That's one of the perils of tickets. A lot of value can be concentrated in one small piece of paper. It's tough to steal seven $100 bills from someone, but not as tough to steal one ticket worth $700.

I'm amazed that some players tell me they've been hassled for cashing out $10 to $20 they've found on a machine or playing similarly valued tickets they've found, yet here is a casino that can't do anything for a much larger amount. But I do understand the casino's position. Even though they may have footage of the person who cashed in the ticket, if she isn't known to them, they have no way to recover the money.

Two things to learn from this story: 1. Treat your tickets like cash. 2. If you lose a ticket, report it right away. The casino can invalidate the ticket and issue you a new one -- if it hasn't already been redeemed.

Jackpots for all,
John


Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.

John Robison

John Robison is an expert on slot machines and how to play them. John is a slot and video poker columnist and has written for many of gaming’s leading publications. He holds a master's degree in computer science from the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology.

You may hear John give his slot and video poker tips live on The Good Times Show, hosted by Rudi Schiffer and Mike Schiffer, which is broadcast from Memphis on KXIQ 1180AM Friday afternoon from from 2PM to 5PM Central Time. John is on the show from 4:30 to 5. You can listen to archives of the show on the web anytime.

Books by John Robison:

The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots
John Robison
John Robison is an expert on slot machines and how to play them. John is a slot and video poker columnist and has written for many of gaming’s leading publications. He holds a master's degree in computer science from the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology.

You may hear John give his slot and video poker tips live on The Good Times Show, hosted by Rudi Schiffer and Mike Schiffer, which is broadcast from Memphis on KXIQ 1180AM Friday afternoon from from 2PM to 5PM Central Time. John is on the show from 4:30 to 5. You can listen to archives of the show on the web anytime.

Books by John Robison:

The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots