Ocean Casino

[NDANCO]

This happened to a friend of mine recently.
We all went to the Ocean Casino in Atlantic City as we did a few times before. We have all been going there since it opened.
Everything went well, my female friend who likes to play VP won a jackpot (hand pay) on the first day.
She won another jackpot of just over $1200 on the second day. The attend came and took her info, she was already in the system and won a few jackpots last year and the year before. He paid her, she gave him a tip and he left. After 5 minutes a middle-aged guy from the casino came and yelled at her “Were you born here?” She said no, whereof he said give the money back. I tried to intervene, he yelled at me “I am not answering any questions. Everyone who isn’t born on American soil has to bring his passport. My friend countered, but I have a legit state driver’s license and soc. Sec. number. I don’t care if you don’t give me the money back, there will be consequences. My friend who is a middle-aged woman started to get a panic attack. The guy ripped the money out of her hand and left, he came back with a woman and gave my friend a copy form of a paper, no ID. Come back with your passport and you get your money.
The paper had everything wrong, from her birthdate to her address. When she went back with her passport they told her the info was wrong and they couldn’t give her the money. She should return when the guy who filled out the form was here. She asked when he be here, and they said tomorrow, my friend drove back of course no one knew anything. She didn’t get the money or a canceled W2.
She wrote a letter to the Ocean Casino, explaining the situation, and asked at least to give me the canceled W2 so I can show the IRS, that I didn’t get paid the money. Of course no answer, the only option is to get a lawyer, but for $1200 it’s not worth it.
So, in the eyes of the IRS, she got paid and is responsible for the tax of a slot winning she never got paid.
She contacted the Casino Control Commission, but they could not do anything. (I am shocked).
The moral of the story is the Ocean Casino keeps your money, tries to humiliate you, and gets away with it.

[Tedlark]

I wouldn't have given back the money. Not a cent of it. Why would they only ask for the handpay money bac for one of the handpays and not the others?

This story has lots of holes in it.

[OTABILL]

Weird. I have never been asked for proof of citizenship for a hand pay except once on a cruise ship. Last time I was only asked for my driver's license. I don't carry my Social Security card, my driver's license doesn't have my SSN, and driver's licenses don't have citizenship information.

[NDANCO]

There is no hole in the story, that's exactly as it happens. If I haven't been there I wouldn't believe it.

[dinghy]

There is no hole in the story, that's exactly as it happens. If I haven't been there I wouldn't believe it.

I think I understood your account of the events on the day of the jackpot. But I'm confused on the subsequent developments.

She contacted the Casino Control Commission, but they could not do anything. (I am shocked).

Why do you say you're shocked? I presume this is sarcasm. Do you have history or knowledge of the commission that would lead you to distrust them? It's their job to intervene when a casino steals $1200.

[Karl_EDT]

I'm not a legal expert and I've never been involved in any legal tussle in the USA, but there's a larger issue here than a single jackpot of 1000-2000 dollars. Your friend apparently is the victim of some sort of civil rights violation and possibly discrimination. But as has been pointed out already this account of events that transpired is missing a lot of backstory, details, and other elements I can't specify. That is NOT an insult or a jab to the original posting person NDANCO, it is just a statement of analysis.

I can tell NDANCO is upset and frustrated which I strongly empathize with and I hope you get some sort of fair adequate resolution to this situation. I would imagine that....going up against large scale organizations like Ocean Casino, and large scale bureaucratic institutions like a Gaming Commission office in any state, is intimidating and exhausting to say the least.

[FAA]

Shocking and disturbing story. Yet another reason to avoid this beautiful money pit on the north end. I’ve had my share of fun there, but it’s not worth the VP play. I’m not giving anything back either. They can attempt to restrain me from leaving and I’ll call 911. May not come to this action in real time. But now at least I have formulated some response. Since I’d get a check anyway, I wouldn’t even get it! Good thing I was born here then.

[dinghy]

Good thing I was born here then.

No one gets all the benefits.

[JIMDUECE`SWILD]

Maybe a case for Bob Nersesian from Bob Dancer's podcast "Gambling with an Edge".