Treating a Slot Ticket Like Cash

Slot machines are increasingly becoming more simplified in the way in which they handle and process money.  These days, a paper ticket is probably the most common means of cashing out and depositing funds into slot machines.  In the future, plans are in the making to mainstream entirely paperless slot machines, which would read plastic player cards for all financial transactions.  If or when that happens, in the meantime players are left with the paper receipt, which most definitely has its peculiarities.

Probably the biggest nuisance with paper tickets is that they are a bearer instrument, meaning that they can be picked up and cashed out by anybody in the casino.  There are no identity verification methods developed to make it otherwise, which means that players should always keep a close eye on their slot tickets.  On the ticket itself, will be information regarding  the slot machine number, winning amount, date/time and a small disclaimer that it is a bearer instrument.

There have been stories from players who after encountering  a jam on the machine when trying to get their ticket back, went to fetch a slot attendant, and returned to the machine only to find that the ticket was taken by another player.  There have also been times when players turned their back to the machine they were playing, only to turn back around and find that a thief had taken their slot ticket.

Although there is not much the casino can do after the ticket is already stolen, it is paramount that one report it right away (just like reporting a lost credit card so that it can be put on hold).  The ticket can be blocked from being cashed (but only if it hasn't been cashed out yet) - and if that is the case, there is still a chance that security personnel can view video surveillance and try to find the person responsible for taking the ticket.  In cases where it appears that people stumbled upon a slot machine that a prior player simply forgot to cash out, all that can be done is to ask the other player to return the slot ticket.  The bottom line is that slot tickets should be treated as cash.  Always treat them that way, and you will save yourself becoming the hapless slot machine player who got distracted and lost their winnings.

 

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