ROYAL FLUSH DEALT!!

[Tedlark]

I guess I had a "Senior Member" Moment. LOL...

[rascal]

Congrats on the nice win, but that was a junk casino if they made you drive back the next day for a $10K check. Any regulated casino can write a check of that size at the cage, so there was no reason to make you return the next day. I suspect they refused initially thinking you would accept cash and when you insisted on a check they couldn't lose face and back down. Take it from me, it is the unusual, junk casino that can't write a $10K (less withholding) check 24-7 right at the cage.
 
Just a tip to anyone playing at a regulated (non-Indian) casino: If you request a check for your jackpot or portion of it and the casino tries to steer you toward cash, start writing down the names of who you are talking with and mention the state gaming commission and I guarantee you will have your check pronto. But almost all casinos will gladly comply with your request. The few that give you trouble about issuing a check seem to believe that you, the winner, are so weak that a wallet full of cash will go right back into their machines and they will keep the jackpot you won.
 
For any win over $1200 I generally ask for a check. Then I endorse it right on the spot and add "for deposit only." This prevents you from doing anything with that jackpot except depositing it in the bank.
 
As I have posted previously, I have a very good friend who is a top manager with one of the largest casino operations in NV, and I have been lectured constantly about the percentage of jackpots that never leave the casino. This is something the casino definitely counts on as part of the margin expectation, so beat the odds, demand a check, and make that bank deposit!

[MikeA]

Hi Rascal.  Good advise I think.  I've not had the fortune to have that happen with VP though I have had occasion to have to deal with some pretty large bankrolls with Blackjack a few years ago during my wild and adventurous days as an AP.But what you said brought to mind a sign posted prominently at KAW Indian Casino located in Newkirk, Oklahoma.  That sign says "ALL Winnings Above $5,000 Will Be Paid By Check".  There are no exceptions.  Other than having lousy paytables and an Ante on Blackjack Tables, this casino really does try to look after their patrons.  I've never seen anything underhanded about them.  In fact, I've actually seen Pit Bosses strongly encourage players to leave the tables when they think they are losing more than they can afford.  Most of the players are locals down there and are at the casinos pretty much every day. Maybe they are the exception.  I haven't seen that from the other two Indian casinos that are only 7 miles to the north on Highway 77.

[vidopoker]

I was taken to a private room where they counted out the $7,500 in cash (i had withholdings taken out). They told me the check would be ready at 8am the next day. i told them how ridiculous i thought it was that a casino that rakes in millions of dollars a day couldn't write me the check. They told me no one was there to do that on the weekends. They gave me some type of check request form that had how much i won and how much the check would be for. When i got to the casino yesterday, i had to go to three different windows to get it (every place i went kept sending me somewhere different). once there, it took forever. the supervisor i spoke to had to have the check written out then get her supervisor to sign it. As i said, i've never heard of something like this. when i told them in las vegas they can always write you a check on the weekends, the supervisor i spoke to that night said "well, this is an indian casino, not las vegas." I've been to Pala Casino before and they even wrote me a check for 21 chips i cashed in for about $2,000 with no problems.
This casino is just ridiculous. i've never waited more than 10 minutes to get my w2g. seriously, i kid you not when i tell you that after i won the jackpot, it took almost 1 hour to get the paperwork. They probably want you to keep losing more money before you get the money you won.
 
And this random lady kept bothering me for a cigarette and for gas money for her to get home. What is she doing at a casino if she doesn't have any money? She sat next to me for like 30 minutes pestering me to give her money. I finally gave her $5 so she would go away.
 
The only reason i go to this casino every so often is b/c it's the quickest to my house (1 hr 15 minutes) and i don't have to drive through winding, dangerous roads to get there. Also, i've been very lucky on the video poker machines there and the other indian casino nearest to my house has ddb machines that pay 7/5 i believe (that's the chumash casino in santa ynez).

[marie meijer]

Thanks for sharing your hysterical story! It's TOO funny! We were already cracking up when we reached the random lady part. She will tell her friends and they will tell their friends! I stopped at Motor City only to pick up my FREE folding lawn chair in a bag. I accidentally donated $100 before leaving, to win at MGM Grand Detroit. My lucky .50, five play machine dealt 3s, one with a K, netted EXACTLY $1200 for a W2G. A full house w AAA turned into AAAA when I tossed the pair, rare for me. Happily many other aces, some with K, showed up among 44 quads, for my AC bankroll. 

[vidopoker]

hi marie, glad you enjoyed the story. i had to share b/c it was so ridiculous. the second bells go off or casino personnel walk over, people swarm over and find some excuse to get money. one of the ladies who works at the casino told me pregnant ladies will come in often, lose their money and then beg other patrons for money to help for the kids or other stuff like that.
 
congrats on your hits!

[cddenver]

And this random lady kept bothering me for a cigarette and for gas money for her to get home. What is she doing at a casino if she doesn't have any money? She sat next to me for like 30 minutes pestering me to give her money. I finally gave her $5 so she would go away.
 
I've had that happen in Vegas, almost always in the middle of the night when not too many people are around.  I was raised too polite to tell a lady to buzz off, or to call security, so I just do the manly thing (flee).  One woman was so persistent in following me from one bank of machines to another that I finally gave her $20 to leave me alone.  So you got off cheap. 
 
I've told that story to many friends, and several have told me that if they see me in one of the local casinos they'll leave me alone for only $10. 

[EDC1977]

Vidopoker: I've gone there twice and only by invitation of others, not by choice. I usually go to Soboba, Valley View, Rincon or Viejas. Pechanga and Pala are close and fairly accessable but I just don't have the luck there as I do at others! Barona is also a good choice and would be quick to reccommend if it weren't so far out there.  Tedlark, beware of those senior member moments! They may come back to bite you in the asterisk! Also, it may ruin your VP concentration! Marie: nice hits for your AC donation box. Any luck at Windsor?
 Vidopoker, the paytables WERE 8/5 but may have been lowered as I haven't been in over a year. I had warned Eduaaaardo about this place. Poor paytables and selection, otherwise, nice casino. Those Chumash folks did well by getting rid of those big ol tents!
 CD: I had that problem a few times at Sams and Downtown but did the honest thing and told them to dress up like a VP machine and I might stick money into them!

[marie meijer]

Funny stuff, Ed and CD. Nice new computer, CD! Sorry about that renegade bolt and subsequent damage. Before Caesar's became part of Windsor, Windsor had a no check cashing policy. When a guy hit a jackpot, a man came over and asked if he would cash a check for him. When someone wanted to cash a check at Harrah's Laughlin, they were told it would be cashed this time. However, they could not cash another check for them at Harrah's properties for three months. I failed to see the point in that negative public relations policy. Soaring Eagle, Mt Pleasant, MI. Indian casino, has an independent check cashing company and they insist on your social security number before they will cash a check. You do not want to give out that social any more than you have to!

[Tedlark]

I too have had people hit me up for cash after I hit a handpay. One time in Iowa I was playing Super Times Pay and got aces with a kicker x 2 multiplier and this guy was sitting there watching me when I hit. He told me he was rooting for me to hit something good and he could just "tell" I was going to do it. Being from Chicago I have developed a tolerance for these types of people and I politely told him I wasn't buying his pitch. He was insistant and I then told him the first time I was polite and the second time I would not be so polite. He left me alone. Good luck to all, Ted.