How to deal with beggars in a casino

[marie meijer]

I was just playing VP on a fun trip at Ballys, AC when a dude approached and asked if he could ask me a question. "Sure" "Can you give me a dollar so I can stay playing the machine?" I should give him credit for honesty. "NO!" I replied, much louder than I meant to answer. He jumped and took off like a bat. It was the same guy who had seen me hit a royal/foyal across the casino an hour earlier, on DW. When you hit in a casino, assume anyone could see that and still be around for the rest of your time there!! The pay table was mediocre but I also hit deuces on two different days on the same machine. The next day I was playing a good pay table but no luck at Caesar's. A guy walked up with hands extended. He had some singles in one hand and some small change in the other. "Could you help me out? I need $1.60 for the bus." I nodded negatively and he left. He should learn to plan ahead to have that bus money available. Who knows if he really needed bus money?Why me? Twice in two days? I was not trying to look affluent/generous/understanding. No one else was in the immediate area when I was approached. I feel casinos should have a zero tolerance policy re begging in casinos. Perhaps they do but just cannot observe every act.

[faygo]

I have only been approached for a cig. Have resorted back to the old Army way of keeping the pack in your pocket and only pull out one. Ah geez, that was my last one.
marie, I suspect the $1.60 gave him enough for a Pint.
Much worse is the slot attendants that rub your machine and grouse when you hit something and they were in another area.

[spxChrome]

I don't even like the cleanup lady which seems to come by and wants to tighty up my playing area.  So annoying there is a whole casino and you want ask me to move over every 45 seconds so you can take the cup I am still drinking out of wtf?
 
The casinos pretend that they have a zero tolerance but in reality imo they support it.  How, by giving away 1 free entry just for walking in the door for hourly $500 cash giveaway that last from noon to 10pm.  So 1/2 of the casino is filled with people sitting around doing xword puzzles or play .01 at a time waiting to here their name.  *sigh*
 
As for the beggers I normally just ignore them if they get to grabby just wave up some hands signs and point at your ears.  That ends in a 180 real quick., and as for when you hit those handpays tell the slot att you want to get paid in the back, they will come get you when they have your money ready.  Better than counting outloud in front of the crowd.
 

[rascal]

Most casinos will ban beggers if you complain. If I am approached I sternly tell the begger that he/she is about to be evicted from the casino for begging, and I add that if I give him/her even a penny I can also be banned. They generally leave me alone after that. There is no need to waste any tact or kindness on a lowlife who begs in a casino and, yes, I have had it happen a lot. Just be very definite and very forceful and that particular individual will leave you alone, but there will always be more.
 
As far as getting paid in the back, SpxChrome, that depends on the jurisdiction you are playing in, because some state regs require the payoff to be in view of the machine where the win occurred, with an eye in the sky recording. In addition, the amount of your jackpot flashes noticably on the machine for whatever time it takes an attendant to come. Beggers and their ilk don't need to see the money being counted out to know that you're a winner. Same goes for robbers, such as the pair in California who recently murdered a casino winner for his cash.
 
Still, overall, casinos are about the most secure environment you will find, relative to the amount of money changing hands. But the player cannot be shy about seeking the assistance of security. On the few occasions where I have needed security for either an escort to the parking deck or the removal of a pest, I have never had a problem. Most casino security personnel are bored to tears, so they actually welcome a diversion such as escort or pest removal.
 
You will notice that certain casinos have more problems with beggers and bums than others. Seek out casinos that do a good job of pest control. By the same token, if a particular casino cheaps out on parking deck access and security, take your business elsewhere.

[BeanBean]

Usually its me doing the begging..."come on honey just 1 more $20"..."But I don't want to go home"...Yet... or is that whinning, I think there is a fine line and I usually cross it.lol

[marie meijer]

faygo, spx, rascal and bean, Thanks for your interesting input! My husband once donated to a bum looking character outside a Detroit casino. Immediately, a uniformed policeman appeared from around the corner and both seemed put out with my husband! Apparently, he had blown their cover for a sting operation re drug deal.

[damule]

I usually just punch beggars in the face.

[marie meijer]

Um, and then duck or run like hell, mule? Almost every time we are in Vegas, we see an older man on the strip collecting donations for a missionary. Who knows where that $ is going? However, he must be doing okay or I figure he would not be out there!I do have a charitable streak. Depending on my circumstances on a given day, I would probably donate to an amputee and be glad I was not in his shoe. 

[Lucky Larry]

marie,
In your situation, especially being the same guy. I would make sure security becomes involved. The guy could potentially be a real problem/criminal and the casino needs to track him. I would also relate the incident to your casino host or a host. Your casino hosts would most likely be concerned as a friend for your safety and welfare. And, remember, hosts in general want to insure players feel safe and secure so they can spend their $$$$$$. They are also higher up the chain of command with opportunities for input directly to management.

Like Rascal the two casinos we generally play at keep a strong eye on those who don't appear to be players. During the winter we have occasionally seen someone (who appeared homeless) sleeping in the middle of a cold night at machines but they are usually not bothering anyone. Both casinos have free drink stations with hot coffee.

A few times we have had disruptions (a confrontation between parties, someone yelling profanities, or a drunken person who needs assistance-a couple of times it was all of the fore in one situation ) and we contacted the nearest security to remedy the situation. Both casinos have done a great job of resolving the issue.   

LL

[JIMDUECE`SWILD]

I frequently walk on the AC Boardwalk and see the beggars and the musician asking for donations. Then later I see them in the casino playing a slot machine.
The other year there was a man playing the oboe. I would see him everytime I would go for a walk. Onetime I saw him talking on his cell phone.