Has this been tried for vp/slot machines? Locking machine?

I saw a dispute today over a machine that Person A had "saved" as she got up to go do something else. Person B wanted to play it and it had been 15 minutes or so. Person B wanted the machine said Person A had been gone long enough. Person A said that she was "supposed to have" the machine reserved for 20 minutes if she tilted her chair up against it.

Is there any reason why a machine can't be enabled with a function that allows you to lock it for a certain length of time? For example, you hit the button to lock it and it asks you to create (and re-enter) a PIN. You have to have a card inserted, too. The machine locks for 15 minutes and spits out a TITO for any money left on the machine. If you aren't back in 15 minutes, the machine unlocks and anyone can play it.

This would also lock your card out from playing other machines. Here's an example. You lock your Game King to go to the bathroom. You see a Super Time Pay machine and decide you want to play that. You insert your card into the STP machine and you get a prompt informing you that you have a locked machine. You can input the PIN you used to lock the Game King, which will unlock it, and use your card on the STP. Alternatively, you can keep the Game King locked and play STP without your card.

This seems too simple to have not been considered. Has it ever been tried?

 

I do know that at many Caesars casinos, players can "lock" their machine for a certain amount of time... which I believe requires a certain level of players card.

I suspect that casinos don't want to make this feature too widely available, as not only is it sure to piss off players who would like to play a specific machine, it also makes a machine unavailable for play if somebody wants to play it, which is costing the house money.

It also enters somewhat tricky territory when it comes to determining how much time is "enough" for somebody to do what they need to do... whether that's going to the bathroom, going outside to smoke at a non-smoking casino, or taking a phone call in a quiet place.

Ten minutes isn't quite enough... especially for people with mobility issues who might not move too fast. Fifteen minutes is probably pretty reasonable but again, what is "enough"? Bump that up to twenty minutes, and then three "locks" per day leave the machine earning $0.00 for a full hour in a given 24-hour period.

The best approach to this I've seen is to hit the service button and ask a slot attendant to watch your machine for you. It's only fair to tip them for their time once you get back... but this has been a very common request in my experience.

 

I see the tilted chair against the machine a lot at the local Indian casino in Milwaukee

 

If you are a high enough roller at many places you can lock your machine. If it is a machine I want i usually ask how long it has been open. If over 15 minutes I will take it. I'll cash out if there is any money in it and leave the tito on the slot machine.

Where does it end 15 minutes, 2 hours, all day? People need to take a stand against slot saving.

 

"Capping" is the term used when you have an attendant lock your machine for a certain amount of time. You might sometimes see a sign on a machine "no capping allowed", but generally an attendant will lock a machine for a specific amount of time if you're a High Roller.

 

Cherokee Valley River used to have slot attendants hold the machine for a short break for any level player. I'm not sure if they still do.

 

Most CET properties will lock it for you if you’re 7*. Problem is, then you need to find another attendant to unlock it when you’re back and that can be a bit of a task sometimes. Also some newer attendants have no idea how to do it.

Some casinos have actually started adding it as a listed benefit for higher tiers.

Most people just lean the chair up and leave minimal credits and their card inserted - also just asking your slot neighbor to watch it is another option as long as you’re not leaving more than like $5 in it.

 

Caesars definitely used to do it - even for Diamond. I believe max was 2 hrs.

I think I only did it one time at Flamingo, but encountered it a few times at Paris. Had to get up extra early to play the machine I wanted since the other gal played it all day, took a couple hours off with it locked at lunch. Then again at supper. So machine was unavailable the entire day if I didn’t set an early alarm LOL !!

 

My favorite old school Buffalo was locked and had a reserved sign at Wynn the other day.

At the bartops, you just tell the bartender you need to step away (like for the bathroom), pull your $, and they or you, put a cocktail napkin on the screen.

 

So ghetto, when I see that I just shake my head! The only time I leave a machine is when I’m done or when I’m waiting on a jackpot then it’s locked anyway. There’s no voodoo magic. It’s a random number generator and it’s always random. Sorry to Take the fun out of the persistence game. The only time persistence would make the difference is if you have an endless amount of time and an endless amount of money, trust me I know I’ve tried the persistence game.

 

If I feel the need to do a bio break, I figure it's probably time to circulate and change machines.

 

There are definitely slots with 'must hit' features that are guaranteed to hit by a certain number. I wouldn't want to give up one of those slots. Try getting up from a Regal Riches machine when that gold number is at 120, someone may be in that seat before your butt is even completely out of it lol

 

Omg I'm so sick of machine saving abuse.
Rarely see it in vegas, probably because anyone can and will just take the Tito and run.
Here,at least in the Chicago area, there are people who leave their jackets on the chair or turn the chair around of the most popular machines (esp ones with maxed out progressives) and just go somewhere else. Eat a meal, heck just play on other slots... It's like the German towels on pool chairs in the morning. I get doing it if you need ATM or potty action, but there are serial abusers that would lock up every machine if they could. So, no thanks.
Pretty sure the casino doesn't want that nonsense either.

 

I say you get 20 minutes. After that it's not your machine any more. That seems sufficient time to bathroom, call, smoke or whatever.

 

My favorite machines to play are ones with propped up chairs....but then again, I'm a bit of a shit stirrer.

 

I haven't seen the tilted chair phenomena for video poker at MGM National Harbor, but I have at Maryland Live! I never saw this happen on the strip in Las Vegas. It seems to be a "locals" casino phenomena.

 

They often come with some free play too!

 

I also hear that the more often you do it, the more likely you are to score a complimentary trespass order...

 

I've had it happen a couple times at the Wynn, where the person playing next to me has put a chair up. One asked if I'll keep an eye on the machine while she went to the ATM, and the other's wife had his money

 

I usually won't agree to "watch" a machine, too much responsibility and had people not return for 30-60 minutes. If I do I interrogate as to where they are going, dinner is not ok.

Some casinos don't allow the chair tiling, too much of a trip risk/liability. Instead you see ashtrays, drinks, coats, etc. on seats.
Also as mentioned above some people will hold "their machines" and meanwhile be playing other machines.

A week or so ago I saw a machine with the seat turned. After maybe 15 minutes a lady appears and sits down. Puts in maybe a dollar or two and is beating 25 cents or less. Played a minute or two at most.
She then stops playing, sits there for several minutes and walks away.

Then you have people that will see a chair turned, money and players card in the machine and ask if the machine is taken.

People in casinos are weird.