Ak Chin CET Casino discrimination after Royal Flush HandPay

[closvp]

First of all I am a total rewards Diamond Aspirations level player and I frequently visit Caesar's las vegas properties. I started coming to Ak Chin(Phoenix Az) recently and hit a jackpot($4,000) playing video poker. The slot attendants came and filled out the W2G but then came back to say my SSN was not valid(they never checked it, they just assumed since I look like a minority). I clearly stated that it was valid, and had a bunch of W2Gs from las vegas properties. They decided to not believe me and issued a 1042S and kept 30% of the jackpot. The next day I complained to the game supervisor Julie Madrigal. And she kept accusing me that I had a non valid SSN and that the number had never been issued. A total act of discrimination since I work and have paid taxes for years. She then rudely closed my case and sent me to the Tribal Gaming Agency.
I had to bring original documents to the Ak chin tribal gaming agency to prove my status. Mr. Charles McCarty and his team verified the documents and concluded there was no regulatory issue, but now stated that Ak Chin Caesars management team decided to keep the 30% even after proving that I needed to be given back my 30% and a W2G.

Julie Madrigal and her team at Ak Chin are clearly discriminating. If you are a minority and dark skinned, good luck getting a W2G on a winning jackpot. They will accuse you of using a fake/non valid SSN and will do anything necessary to not pay your your full jackpot.

I will never visit this property again. Las Vegas Caesars properties have always been great to me and that is why I am a total rewards Diamond Aspirations player, but Julie Madrigal and her Ak Chin team clearly discriminated and did not value me as a guest.

 

[Nevyn]

Tell Caesars corporate, and tell them you will pull your business from the Vegas properties too unless they can do something to your satisfaction.

From an outsiders point of view, it feels more like scamming than prejudice. Maybe they run this line with everyone so they can make interest on the withholding taxes before paying to the IRS?

Never heard of this place, but if they are going to run down the Total Rewards brand treating players badly, corporate (or your vegas hosts) might like to know.

 

[DaiLun]

Very distressing to hear. Please keep us informed as to how this works out. I visited AK-Chin a week ago and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

 

[vegasdev]

shady crap like this is not uncommon at the tribal casinos, no matter the color of one's skin.

 

[flyguyfl]

Take it to CET and assert they are cheating you. No casino likes to be cited for cheating and CET will do something for sure to clear it's name.

 

[kathiemc23]

Wow, this is terrible. I have had many handpays at Ak-Chin and have never had an issue.

 

[AllenAndRossi]

I visit Ak-Chin 2-4 times a month. I've had hand pays/W2G pays with no problem.

I've seen many races and ethnicities hit hand pays with no problem.

If I've had an issue there(and it's never been with a pay), they usually bend over backwards to satisfy.

I can't imagine why they treated you like that.

I would definitely take it up with CET. Start with Robert Livingston, who is CET Regional President and General Manager for Ak-Chin and Harrah's Southern Cal(Rincon).

 

[closvp]

The hotel and diamond lounge are great. I had no issue with them before, I was just surprised the way they have treated me after this hand pay. The slot attendants and games supervisor are the ones that have given me an issue. Everyone else from total rewards have been great. I will definitely keep you updated if anything gets resolved.

 

[Grant1982]

First...That sucks that you were treated badly, really...That sucks hard and you have all of our full support there I assure you. Second, I can't even count how many times you asserted that you were discriminated against, that's crap in my opinion. Just because you are a minority and got treated unfairly does NOT always mean you were discriminated against! Do you seriously think white people are never treated unfairly? It happens, unfortunately, and most times it has nothing at all to do with the color of ones skin, most certainly not enough to just assume that is the case.

 

[closvp]

First...That sucks that you were treated badly, really...That sucks hard and you have all of our full support there I assure you. Second, I can't even count how many times you asserted that you were discriminated against, that's crap in my opinion. Just because you are a minority and got treated unfairly does NOT always mean you were discriminated against! Do you seriously think white people are never treated unfairly? It happens, unfortunately, and most times it has nothing at all to do with the color of ones skin, most certainly not enough to just assume that is the case.

First of all, I never stated anything about white people never been treated unfairly. All people are treated unfairly at some point in time no matter the color of skin. I just pointed out what I felt as discrimination since the game supervisor still accused me of providing a non valid SSN and that the Social Security Administration had never issued that number without any proof to back up that claim. I even mentioned to them that they could look at my Total Reward records that show my W2G's from caesars properties and they refused to change their decision. How many times have you mistakenly been given a 1042S and accused of providing a non valid SSN??

And it is Arizona and Maricopa county. I have lived in this state all my life and can easily tell when I am being discriminated, I just never expected it from a Caesars property.

 

[Grant1982]

My point is, you have no proof they are a racist, instead of just a dick. I would like to hope there are more dicks out there than racist, especially considering I am not racist, but can be a huge dick in certain circumstances

 

[insin]

What's the difference if you pay the 30% tax now or later?
(As far as tax benefit or penalty goes...)

 

[TIMSPEED]

To the point of your valid SSN..each area is assigned a certain "segment" of SSN, so your SSN should have the same first three numbers as others they've seen before...so I think them calling BS on your SSN isn't a valid argument..they probably fucked up writing your SSN correctly and then it just snow-balled and no one wanted to fess up to their mistake..you COULD take it to CET management, but I think they would just say it falls under tribal rules...
Personally I'd call my friendly local IRS office and tell THEM since this is an issue with federal tax withholding.

 

[tringlomane]

To the point of your valid SSN..each area is assigned a certain "segment" of SSN, so your SSN should have the same first three numbers as others they've seen before...so I think them calling BS on your SSN isn't a valid argument..they probably fucked up writing your SSN correctly and then it just snow-balled and no one wanted to fess up to their mistake..you COULD take it to CET management, but I think they would just say it falls under tribal rules...
Personally I'd call my friendly local IRS office and tell THEM since this is an issue with federal tax withholding.

I could easily believe that is what happened. And I like the idea with the IRS. I could see them caring about it.

Also threatening to stop gambling at CET completely could also get CET's attention, but who knows.

And though it's not the point of the thread, nice multiplied royal!

 

[zignerlv]

While I can understand you want the full payment now, CET does not keep the 30% tax. It goes to the federal government for tax withholding under your name. When you file your taxes next year, the amount they withheld gets treated as part of your tax payments, and you will get a refund if you overpaid your taxes for the year. If you know this 30% will mean you will be overwithheld for 2017, you can decrease your income tax witholdings, or estimated tax payments, if applicable, so that over time, you will recoup those funds earlier.

The bottom line is, in the longer term, even if what they did was wrong, it's not going to cost you anything.

 

[nostresshere]

..
...The slot attendants came and filled out the W2G

... but then came back to say my SSN was not valid(they never checked it, they just assumed since I look like a minority)

....accusing me that I had a non valid SSN and that the number had never been issued.

....A total act of discrimination since I work and have paid taxes for years.

...now stated that Ak Chin Caesars management team decided to keep the 30% even after proving that I needed to be given back my 30% and a W2G.

Julie Madrigal and her team at Ak Chin are clearly discriminating...

1 - Unless they do something different than every other casino, they slot attendants do not fill our the W2G - the back office does that

2 - How do you KNOW they did not check your SSN?

3 - Working and paying taxes has no relation to discrimination/SSN issue. None. Zero. They could care less.

4 - Keeping the 30%. I really have no idea, but I would think that once they issue the W2g and withold taxes, it might be difficult to reverse.

5 - You will still get that money back (or applied to taxes due). The casino will not get any of that money.

6 - and yes, you have totally screamed "discrimination" in your entire discussion.

 

[closvp]

1 - Unless they do something different than every other casino, they slot attendants do not fill our the W2G - the back office does that

2 - How do you KNOW they did not check your SSN?

3 - Working and paying taxes has no relation to discrimination/SSN issue. None. Zero. They could care less.

4 - Keeping the 30%. I really have no idea, but I would think that once they issue the W2g and withold taxes, it might be difficult to reverse.

5 - You will still get that money back (or applied to taxes due). The casino will not get any of that money.

6 - and yes, you have totally screamed "discrimination" in your entire discussion.

1. The slot attendant filled out the W2G form in front of me and I signed it. They were just supposed to hand me the copy.

2. THEY DID NOT CHECK MY SSN. I politely asked to prove that my SSN was not valid, what system they used, or the output showing that it was not valid. They NEVER proved they checked anything. I even visited my local Social Security Administration Office and told them what happened. They even provided me an extra stamped paper showing my number IS VALID... Which I then provided to the casino.

3. I never said working and paying taxes has a relation to discrimination. But when they are treating you like a FOREIGN NATIONAL without any proof then that def screams discrimination.

4. They never issued me a W2G... They issued me a 1042S with my name and address and they purposely did not add my SSN in the 1042S form.

5. The issue is that I cannot use a 1042S form on my taxes since I am not a foreign national. I always file as a U.S. person and use my W2G's when filing my return.

6. And I will keep screaming discrimination since I cannot see any other reason why I was singled out that way. I kept seeing people getting handpays and w2g's from left to right with no issues. But when its my turn, now they start accusing me of an invalid SSN(no proof, just their opinion) and tell me that I am a Foreign National.

AGAIN, this is Ak Chin casino. All other casinos throughout my years of gambling have never given me any issues.

I did visit my local IRS office and they just told me to provide original copy of SSN and the casino should issue me the W2G. The casino still did not change their decision or accept their mistake.

 

[Grant1982]

What exactly is "being treated like a foreign national"? See to me that would be treating you like a human being, treating you like everyone else. As already pointed out CET does not get to keep the money, so what would the point be in discriminating? Did they tell you they were discriminating? Did you run years of records on these employees or the casino to compare how they treated different groups of people? Calling someone a racist is a pretty severe accusation, one that should not be made lightly, so where is your proof???

 

[nostresshere]

Some very interesting feedback here from the OP. Thank You.

Maybe somebody with more knowledge of the IRS and reporting can add to the 1042S form. There must be a way to get that withholding back, or at least give you credit for it.

I would note that the casino would be required to not enter your SSN if they felt it was not a valid SSN. (it appears they were wrong, but they can not enter information they believe is false)

As to discrimination - maybe, maybe not. I would tend to bet some of those winnings that any argument that includes "discrimination" or similar issues often ends up poorly. In this case, there is only one issue - you want a proper W2G.

 

[Nevyn]

What exactly is "being treated like a foreign national"? See to me that would be treating you like a human being, treating you like everyone else. As already pointed out CET does not get to keep the money, so what would the point be in discriminating? Did they tell you they were discriminating? Did you run years of records on these employees or the casino to compare how they treated different groups of people? Calling someone a racist is a pretty severe accusation, one that should not be made lightly, so where is your proof???

He looks like a foreigner, is a citizen, and has a SSN and they told him it was invalid and made him use the form for foreigners, and did not change their position after he took steps to prove it was valid.

Say what you want about their motives, but that is by definition treating him like a foreign national.