Big Win Question

I read this morning on Reddit that some college kid went on a movie-style hot streak and turned 1K into 33K over a few days. It might be true, it might not, but thats not the point. My question is: If you win big and are flush with cash, is there an option to have the casino write you a check or wire you funds as opposed to traveling with a few bricks of hundies? As someone who only BR's 3-5K per trip and usually takes it out 500-1K at a time via the ATM (my bank refunds all ATM fees and I hate traveling with lots of cash.. long story involving being 21, hammered, in vegas, and having my buddy get picked for over 2K), I'm just curious about how people travel with this much cash. I'm leaving for the Holy Land in two weeks and (obviously) dreaming of having this issue, but more so just curious to hear from those that hit huge or play at this level regularly. (I supposed a 30K profit isn't much if your BR is 100K or more)

 

It's going to ultimately depend on the casino and the circumstances.

If you just walk up to the cage with $30k in cash I think your chances are going to be pretty much zero anywhere. If casinos did this they'd have people who wanted to launder money showing up to do it every day. On the other hand, if you have tracked wins with W2-Gs from slots or table game chips from tracked wins it is certainly possible.

Anecdotally, I've done this once. I was taking cash for slot wins in high limit because I was playing big enough to spend it back. At the end of the night I was still up big and they took a bunch of cash back for a check. While they were processing it, I mentioned that I didn't realize they would do this and they said only if they knew the cash was from wins, such as in my case.

 

They will likely write you a check, as long as your chips/winnings are form that casino. But really, carrying home $33k in cash is not a big deal. That's barely more than three straps and would all fit in a normal envelope. Just take the cash, put it in an envelope with a couple rubber bands, and throw it in the bottom of your carryon bag. It may seem uncomfortable if you've never carried that much, but three straps really is not that large

 

Yes, carrying it is no big deal - unless of course you count it in public or are walking down the street with pants pocket bulging.

Nobody knows if you have $50 in cash of $30,000 in cash unless you tell them. As to the airport, the advice above to put in the BOTTOM of your carryon bag is perfectly safe.

 

Thanks for the answers. I am looking forward to trying this out!

 

I've carried $20K in cash a few times. Like UKfanatic said, it doesn't take up that much space. I get searched every time I go through security because I have a metal hip. If I was solo I put the cash in two business envelopes and hold it above my head while I'm being searched. If I was traveling with someone, I put the cash in my carry-on and have them watch my bag go through until I'm done. When the TSA guy asks what I'm holding I tell him cash. Haven't had a problem. The bank will ask questions about you when you deposit or withdraw over $10K in cash. One time when I got home I went to deposit a large amount. A rookie teller asked me several questions then asked my where I worked and I said I'm retired. She then asked me where did I work before. So I said for the bank that I was in (one of the largest in the country) - true. She had this scared look on her face like I was scamming her. I said I really I did work there. I still had an employee account, but she didn't recognize it. It was funny. Now I just take out a LOC - no more issues.

Now if I was playing at the tables with no LOC - just cash in the chips and get a check. Otherwise large amounts at Slots or VP over $5K they can issue a check.

 

Maybe if you are used to carrying larger amounts of money, it's ok. But for me, when I take 4-5 thousand with me, I am a nervous wreck until I get to my room and put it in the safe.

 

One must ask, at the time of a large win, for a check rather than cash. It could be 50/50 if you wish. Half in cash the rest as a check. It takes a little while for the casino to make out the check but there's no problem when you make a bank deposit.

 

I appreciate the tips of how to bring back cash in case you go on your dream run especially through the airport. I figured in the Las Vegas airport this is not as much a big deal as other airports since people do win and bring cash home with them. Obviously, take the proper precautions to make sure it doesn't leave out of your sight!

 

Ha! I'm the big cheapo/paranoid one on this, as I don't like carrying a few thousand, much less 30k.

May you and I BOTH have the problem of figuring out how to carry 30k!

 

I have never been stopped at the Vegas airport, including some times I had very large sums in my suitcase. You're right, its just not a big deal there

 

isn't it illegal to carry more than 10K cash across state lines?

 

I agree that it's not too difficult to carry $20-40K home from Vegas, but I'd prefer not to do this.

Sometimes I stop at a Chase branch on my way to the airport and deposit several wads of 100's.......lightens my load on the trip home

 

No.

You have to declare over $10k when coming into the country or it's subject for forfeiture.

Banks have to declare transactions over $10k

 

If you are travelling in or out of the US you also have to declare it when leaving LV as well. It's not illegal (it is if you don't declare it), you just have to tell them and fill in a form. On the way in you have to go to secondary inspection and get asked why you have it. No issues other than that and a stupid question to ask when going to LV. Not sure what you need to do on the way out but on BA and Virgin they always announce it before boarding. I ticked the box that said I didn't have more on one occasion but wasn't prepared to lie when asked separately and said it belonged to myself and my friend. No can do, if it's you that carries it. Also if you are a family and you fill in one customs form it is $10k between you all. That $10k also includes the value of any foreign currency, checks or Bonds etc, doesn't have to be actual cash. I learnt the hard way, lol.

 

And just to be precise, banks don't have to "declare" transactions over $10k. They have to keep records of all those transactions, however, and if you are not known at the bank or they think the funds are part of some illicit purpose, they will fill out and file a CTR. If they know you, don't suspect any illicit activity, and have a previous CTR on file, they are permitted to simply take the funds and make a note of it without filing a new CTR

 

You can ask for a check or a wire transfer for any verified wins at the casino. Once you've cashed in your chips for cash I'm not sure if they will allow you to return the cash for a check or wire. I just deposit my chips as a front money deposit at the cage and then I can take markers against the deposit at the tables if I want to keep playing. At the end of my trip I decide how to take my winnings. I personally don't like to take a check as my bank puts a hold on it for around 5 business days if it's over a certain amount. I also don't like too much cash because banks now charge to deposit large sums of cash. Wells Fargo charged me $75 to deposit $30k.

With large sums of cash you are always subject to forfeiture in the USA if law enforcement believes that it is from illegal activity and you can't document the origins of the money. The burden is on you to show where this money came from.

 

And by the way, if you take your winnings with a check, it is very easy to cash that check at the casino that issued it if you decide you want to play some more with those funds. Trust me.

 

Wow, I have never had that happen. Time to find a new bank!

 

My bank asks me each and every time that I make a 10k+ transaction, if I sold or am purchasing a car. Each time my response is no, I sold (or purchased) another sniper rifle.