Hitting the jackpot

[KathyinNY]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this question but if you hit the jackpot on a slot machine in Vegas and you don't have your social security card is it true that they won't pay you?

Also, if you hit the jackpot or you win money and they have to come and pay you in cash at your machine are you suppose to tip them?

I hope this happens to me when I go to Vegas in April but I'm sure it won't. Just thought I'd ask, LOL

[alohagirl]

I know that if someone hits a single jackpot of $1200 or more on a slot machine they're required to have two forms of identification (usually a driver's license and social security card) to collect a payout. This is needed for filling out a W2G form for the IRS. For the curious, this is discussed in more detail at Casinogaming.com (http://www.casinogaming.com/features/taxlaws.html) and IRS.gov (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2g_02.pdf).

As for tipping...If you hit a jackpot that needs to be paid out by an attendant, it depends on how much you've won and the service you receive. Tipping.org (http://www.tipping.org/tips/TipsPageCasino.html) suggests 1% - 2%, but in general, I recognize tipping as, "a reward for good service".

With that being said...Good luck in Vegas! :cool:

FYI - Never carry your social security card with your driver's license unless you have to. Keep it in a room safe or in a safety deposit box at the hotel. This reduces the possibility of identity theft (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/DailyNews/buck980521/).

[Sonya]

I would assume that they have other ways to verify your identity and social security number. It might take longer to get paid though. I bring the card with me, but so far I haven't needed it. :(

Tipping someone who pays off a hand pay is a beef of mine. I get really peeved about it sometimes. I'm a pretty big tipper when we're in Vegas, but this one bugs me. If a change person has been friendly and helpful.. or at least visible, I might throw a few bucks their way. But here's an example of what I hate...

This happened at Horizon at Lake Tahoe. I sat at a video poker machine and it wouldn't take my last $20. I pushed the button for a change person and waited 15-20 minutes. No sign of anyone. Finally I moved to another machine... $0.10 triple play VP machine and put in my $20. I played for awhile and hit 4 deuces. The machine froze up and the lights started flashing. That's 1000 coins on 3 lines - 3000 coins at $0.10 = $300. Now I'd been losing for a few days.. it was my last $20 for the trip. They had all my others already and this $300 would put me back about even.

Anyway... lights flashing... no change person. 5 minutes.. 10 minutes.. 15 minutes.. no change person. I was playing alone so I couldn't walk away from the machine. I finallly stood on my chair and shouted "CHANGE!!!" and one of the two change people sitting across the casino talking to each other turned around and slowly made her way over to me.. stopping at 3-4 other people on the way.

She looked at the machine, mumbled something and wandered away. 5 minutes.. 10 minutes.. finally she returns with a suit. She opened the machine.. said "congratulations" and walked away. 5 minutes later they were back with my $300. 2 $100 bills,1 $50, 2 $20's and a $10. I said, "Thanks", stuffed it all in my pocket and pushed the cash out button to get the last of my dimes I had on the credit meter. The change person turned around and said to her change person friend, "Gee.. thanks for the tip." just loud enough for me to hear it. I walked over to her with my bucket of coins and said, "You're welcome! Thanks for the prompt service!" with a big smile.

That was years ago and I'm still ticked off about it. smile.gif

Another time I was at Rio and a change person and cocktail waitress were talking to me as I sat down. We were joking about how this machine was going to be the lucky machine. The cocktail waitress rubbed the machine and tapped it twice with a silver dollar tip she had on her tray. The change person said a little chant thing and they both wished me good luck. In the next hour I racked up tons of credits on it, hitting lots of 4 of a kinds and straight flushes. I cashed out and gave the change girl $20 and made sure to find the cocktail waitress to give her $20 too. They both were around frequently and always friendly. I think that sort of service should be rewarded when/if you can do it.

[KathyinNY]

Thank you both for your help.

Great stories Sonya. I have never had the pleasure of being given money in my hand from a change person. But I agree - I would still be ticked at that person in Tahoe and rewarded those at Rio.

So, from what I gather it is a situation kind of thing whether to tip or not. Thank you.

[csmith2884]

I completly agree with sonya tipping is for good service. I can't stand dealers who constantly work a table for tips.I love to place bets "for the boys" usually hard ways $1 each in craps.But if they are agressive about them I'll keep the money myself.
Last time I was in a casino I recived a tip for just playing with a stranger.What a great deal and I hope sometime to be lucky enough to do it.He hit a straight flush in let it ride plus the bonus...$4000 for a $16 bet.He tipped the dealer $200 and the table $100 each. :D

[HoyaHeel]

I've never won enough to have my id checked :( But I never travel with my social security card--it stays in the safety deposit box unless I need it at DMV or something....This is actually the first time I heard about this--so surely they must have other ways to verify id, in addition to drivers license? I'm a government worker--my fingerprints are on file smile.gif

[KathyinNY]

CSsmith: that was a cool deal. I think I would do the same thing myself. I don't have any issues with tipping but if I had someone like Sonya did I won't tip either.

The only casinos I have been too were Atlantic City and Niagara Falls, Canada. I always tipped in AC $1/2 a drink. In Niagara Falls you have to pay for your drinks while playing, their not free so I didn't drink.

[alikeith]

Hi,
Recently my husband and i both won two jackpots on Dolphin Treasures here in Washington State. I had my social security card he did not. As long as you know your number you are fine. At least in this state. I dont know why it would be any dfferent in Vegas. Just make sure you definetely have a drivers license or id card. Then im sure they probably would not pay you. good luck and win big!

Alison

[HoyaHeel]

In a trip report recently, a man reported his wife winning $20,000. They photocopied her drivers license and made her fill out the tax forms, but didn't actually require the social security CARD--just the number.

[HurricaneMikey]

No social security card needed in Vegas unless you are applying for a JOB.

Otherwise, just the number and your drivers license will do.

Of course, we all may be putting the cart before the horse here...We have to actually HIT the Jackpot first...

But it would be a nice problem to have..."hmm, wonder if I can remember my SSN in my current drunken state..."

Mikey

[brooklyngirl]

I've never been lucky enough to win a jackpot, but a friend of mine won $5,000 in Atlantic City as an ID she just showed her driver's license and her bank card.

With regards to tipping, (you can call it lack of experience since I can count the times I needed a hand payment) I didn't even know you were supposed to tip. I haven't been to Vegas yet but I've seen a lot of people being hand payed in Atlantic City and have never seen anyone tip.

I remember the last time I got hand payed. I had to wait more than an hour at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City for 2,000 nickels ($100). I didn't even get an apology! :mad:

I guess I'll have to check out those tipping guidelines before I visit Vegas. ;)

[KathyinNY]

Funny, the only place I've really gambled in at AC was Trump Plaza and I NEVER saw anyone get a hand pay let alone win a jackpot. I'd see the slips in the slot machines saying they had a winner but never ever saw it.

I'd love to get a hand pay in Vegas next week. My first time going.

With all that has been mentioned above I don't think I'm taking my SS card.