The Predator Player

The Predator player is a true blue scam artist. I was in a Casino in Missouri recently (will blog about in the next couple days) and this guy pulled a real humdinger on me.

I was playing video poker (of course lol) and i was on a real good roll. With $600 in my machine i had asked my cousin sitting next to me to watch it while i went to the ladies room.  When i came back here stood this guy hovering over my machine guarding it, like it was Fort Knox.

I looked puzzled and asked what was going on. The guy is a real fast talker rambling 100 miles an hour saying "ha ha you just made $100 bucks because i put money in the machine not realizing their was money already in it.

I look at my cousin like what the hell is going on? She said he put the money in and now he is waiting for a Slot host to give him the cash back. Slot host?? What is a slot host going to do but tell me to cash it out and give this guy his money back.

I asked if he had played any of his money at all and he said no. I also asked my cousin if he really put $100 in the machine and she said yes because although i thought i left with $600 in the machine you begin to doubt yourself when stuff like this happens.

So instead of cashing out a voucher I gave him a $100 from my purse. He sat right next to me at the next machine rambling on and on and super animated which made him look all the more guilty to me plus it was like he was putting on that innocent act for the Casino cameras. I mean why else would he call for a Slot host unless he was putting on a grand show of innocence to the Casino.

After he left my cousin said he came out of no where slipped the money in my machine from around her shoulder and stood behind her.  She was able to stop him in his tracks luckily. But i am pretty certain he would of played a hand or two and cashed the whole thing out.

Hmmm....really? Not only did he not recognize there was money in the machine he didn't notice my players card in the machine either?

Hi Lips,

I saw this happen too.  Not to me, but to the person next to me.  Playing VP the person next to me told her friend sitting on the other side to watch the machine, going to ladies room.  A guy comes up and puts $100 in the machine.  (I thought to myself OMG)  I think the guy played one hand and the friend finally noticed he was there.  He started yelling at the guy saying the machine was being played and had credits in it.  The guy says he put $100 in the machine, but the woman's friend didn't know if he should believe him.  I don't think the friend knew how many credits were in the machine when she went to ladies room.  The friend starts yelling "Security, Security, Security"  The guy who put $100 in starts yelling that he put $100 in the machine.  Security did come and got a slot attendant to open machine and verify he put $100 bill in it.  The friend gave him $100 in cash and he went on his way.

I surely thought they would start a fist fight, they were both that mad.

So when the friend's lady friend comes back from the bathroom he starts yelling at her telling her what happened.
It was quite a scene. 

medtrans

I don't understand how people don't realize there's money in the machine. I wonder if the woman had a players card in the machine too. If she did that is even more crazy that this guy didn't realize that! The fact that he got mad might have been an honest but dumb mistake. The guy that took my machine was way too smooth of a talker and I can't help but think it was a scam.

Thanks for sharing your story!

what a freaken douchebag! I would of told him to **** off!

I realize lots of people have friends and family who follow them to the casino.  Yet because of stories like above.  I truly won't trust them on a personal level myself to watch my machine.

Why?  Mainly because they have no power to stop a person from doing anything to your machine, like putting money in or cashing out.

Hence why even if you have to go the bathroom really bad.  I prefer to wait for a slot attendant.  That way they can guard the machine and they have actual power to prevent or resolve anything that would happen to the machine in my absence.  These people are there and available to watch your machine.  You'll have a lot more peace of mind knowing your machine is being well guarded then having a friend or family member trying to pull double duty.

I am really sorry to read this, Lips. I am just shocked how unashamed people can be, I really rarely go to land based casinos for reasons like this. I would have done the same thing as Zuga said, I would have definitely lost my patience and gone mad..

Huh I had always assumed that was part of there responsibilities.  Unless if there were a few select folks who had been gone too long.  Tied up that attendant for longer than the casino would like.  Then they decided to take away that part of there job.

I get that they have to look out for people wanting to change, have a problem with the bill accepter, have problems with cashing out, jackpots, hand pays, or even machine issues in general.  Yet I kid you not, I see way more slot attendants even near the bigger cities.  Doing way more walking around and chatting with each other.  Then actually fixing issues.  So I really can't see them watching a machine for a bit being an issue.  Unless if your gone for longer than oh say 10 minutes.

I would write corporate and ask why the change happened and express your displeasure in them not offering that service anymore.

I know when i was first told they no longer do that i was flabbergasted. I think the problem was players abusing that privilege by staying away too long or asking too many times in a single session.

I do recall the slot attendant here or there in the past waiting a very long time. But with heighten BS going on with scammers they should really jump back in and help players again. Come to think of it i wonder if that is why the scammers are so much more prevalent. I was told by an employee at Rivers Casino they are having a big problem with money being stolen out of machines.

Here is another predatory player trick to watch when you are at the Casino.........

Scenario:

You are sitting at a Slot machine spinning away when someone from behind taps you on your right shoulder. As you turn to your right hand side the person distracts you by talking some kind of nonsense. All the while an accomplice on the left side of you reaches inside your purse and grabs your wallet.

I really need to practice what i preach because i never even hold on to mine, instead put it along side the slot while i play!

Lips and all, the scariest thing about these scam artists is they know where they can pull one on you with very little attention drawn to themselves. They know where security is and how long  it takes them to assist you. Plus a lot of people are just to embarrassed to can security. And Medtrans, never,never put your purse on the floor, I have seen two cases where someone actually pulled the purse away and they player never even knew it. Both were caught, but it sure was enlightening. Just one quick story, I was playing a slot machine in Bossier City a couple of years ago, I had only been playing this particular machine about five minutes when a rather rude man came and sat down beside me. He asked if I would be on the machine very long, and I stated jokingly that it depended on how much the machine was going to pay me. He didn't miss a beat and told me that he had been playing the machine for a couple of hours and he left only to go get some change. Also that he had put a lot of money in it and wanted to get it back. Well I was about to let him have the machine because it was late and not that many people were around. Before I could say anything, he hit the call attendant button and cash out button. I could not even speak I was so shock and furious. I grabbed my slip from the machine, luckily my card was still in it. When the attendant came over ,he told her I took his machine and that he had about 20 dollars in credits. BS, She knew right away that he was lying, but they had to look at the security tape to be sure. He had not even been playing that machine, but one a few seats down, and he had only played it for 5 minutes. Needless to say he was escorted out of the casino by some nice security personnel. She told me that this is a new scam on an old scam. They watch machines that players have been playing on and have not paid out, then before the player even gets out of the seat they are there. That is a lot of time spent stalking others with no real payoff. I prefer to pick my own machine that I want to donate to. lol 
P.S. I did hit one little jackpot of 600.00. ( maybe there is something to this stalking thing.)
Sorry story is so long,  but I feel if it helps one person be more aware of the Idiots that are willing to harass, pressure, bully and guilt you into giving them your money! It was worth it!.
Play safe and win lots,
gl all

imakin - that is awful, it would be enough to want me to spit bullets! That is more than a scam it is a down right bully. One day these kind of people are going mess with the wrong person!

Lipstick, I was so shocked and angered I could hardly speak, he was lucky that they had escorted him out by the time I came to my senses. I am a big believer in karma , what goes around comes around, and he better watch out cause that comes around is a bi@#$. lol
gl all

I don't blame you one bit........it is horrible and i would be very upset too!  >:( >:( >:(

            Wow,  I just saw this post and I have to say, Lips, you and Imakin1  are a whole lot more cool than I would've been.  It sounds to me like these assholes generally target women and usually ones that are by themselves or with maybe one other person-not sure how this crap works.    I know at our local Hard Rock here in Tampa  you can get an attendant to lock your machine for about 5 minutes while you take a break.  They say you have "X  amount of credits in your machine"  so you'll know.  I can't believe anyone would actually try this with all the cameras they have,  I mean how can they possibly expect to get away with anything.  I will say this,  if it were me,  there is a very good possibility
they would have several camera angles of me opening up a 55 gallon drum of Whoop-Ass.

You know what is interesting about that Bongo…….if you or I were to scam the CASINO in any way security would know in a New York minute! But when it comes to players getting scammed it’s always this big song and dance how they have to roll back the tape and its time consuming blah blah. Been there done that in the past.

            See,  that's just it,  I would never do anything that might get me banned.  I can't believe people
wouldn't call security because of embarassment.  I mean  that's what they're there for!  Ya feel me?  Also,
wasn't your cousin  watching the machine for you?  I have had people say "could you watch this for a minute I'll be right back"--I must have an honest face or something,  LMAO !    Anyhow,  I will say Lips that I have had to run off a few people--politely, of course but I would never let them get their meathooks on the buttons....It's  kind of gamblers etiquette,  you NEVER EVER touch another players machine. 

[quote author=bongo link=topic=35451.msg387185#msg387185 date=1446137732]
            Anyhow,  I will say Lips that I have had to run off a few people--politely, of course but I would never let them get their meathooks on the buttons....It's  kind of gamblers etiquette,  you NEVER EVER touch another players machine. 
[quote]

I learned the hard way that some gamblers absolutely despise it when you touch their screen! One time when i was in Vegas this chick next to me got a nice line hit and was jumping up and down with excitement. I turned to congratulate her and touched her screen lightly with one finger pointing at the winning combination and she went bonkers on me......i mean BONKERS!

Be alert at the Casino especially if you win with a hand payout. Reports of players walking out of the casino and getting robbed either on the Casino property or are followed home. It is best to request a check if possible to avoid some unsavory predator in the casino targeting you.

            Good idea,  also,  don't be afraid to ask for a security escort if you win a bundle.  They don't mind.    Big winners are,  after all great press for the place.   

It is pretty scary stuff Med - Especially if you go to Casino alone and i know i have done that plenty of times. One place i get a bit nervous about are these little Video Gaming Cafes. There is one not far from my house that is in a strip mall. It is situated between a late night dive bar and a plasma center where mostly people desperate for cash go to donate plasma for money.

It is the ideal set up to watch from the car anyone cashing out and getting them in the parking lot especially late at night when every other store around is closed. The one guy that works there at night must sense my nervousness and walks me out to my car every time i leave.

Strip malls at night with stores closed....Yes very scary lips.  And now it is dark by 5:00.  You can never be too careful.
It is nice of that guy to walk you to your car.