Gambling addiction is an incredibly serious issue that can ruin people’s lives, as well as those of their family members. But the problem might not be getting the attention that it deserves in public.
Internet user u/brew2brew decided to shine a spotlight on it by asking casino workers to open up about the saddest things they’ve ever witnessed while on the job. We’ve collected some of their most powerful stories about addiction to share with you, and they are harrowing. Read on for their tales.
Internet user u/brew2brew decided to shine a spotlight on it by asking casino workers to open up about the saddest things they’ve ever witnessed while on the job. We’ve collected some of their most powerful stories about addiction to share with you, and they are harrowing. Read on for their tales.
#1
Not a casino employee, but I used to work at a bank. Had a customer asking about something on her account, so I was reviewing her statement and saw these frequent $2,000 withdrawals at the casino nearby. In the one statement I was looking at, there were over $10K in withdrawals, and this customer’s total account balance was somewhere around $60K. I started going backward in her statements and found she had sold a house and received something like $700K less than a year ago, and had steadily gambled it almost all away, month by month. It was one of the most depressing things I saw there, which is saying a lot at a bank.
55points
#2
I’ve only been to a casino one time. Coming into the casino I saw a man playing a card game and someone told me he had $150,000 worth of chips in front of him. At the end of the day when I was getting ready to leave, the same man was at the bar begging for bus fare to get home. The bartender told me he had even given his car to someone exchange for cash. After that day I never set foot in a casino again.
48points
#3
Coming into work and seeing the same people still playing that were there when I left the night before.
41points
Health Direct explains that there are lots of different factors that can increase a person’s chances of developing gambling problems. For some individuals, gambling is a way to escape the other difficulties and problems going on in their lives. However, because gambling has become normalized in society to a certain extent, it can make it really hard for people with gambling problems to stay away.
Even if they’re on a losing streak, people who are addicted to gambling can’t control their urge to gamble. Not only can they end up losing the money in their wallets or bank accounts, but they can also end up losing their jobs and their homes and damage their closest relationships. They can end up anxious and depressed, bankrupt, and even homeless.
It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. If you suspect that you or a loved one might be addicted to gambling, you should turn to a mental health specialist for assistance. Preferably someone who specializes in addiction and gambling.
#4
15 years in the casino, on the F&B side. I have seen:
-People s**t and p**s on themselves so they don't have to leave a machine. S**t in the line to the buffet and roll it down their pant leg so they don't lose their spot. Completely not even batting an eye at their actions. I have more s**t / p**s stories than I care to share.
-People get an opportunity to buy a home, finally, and find out they can't get a lone because 95% of their income has gone into the casino for years.
-Someone die, just to have people try to step around the barrier to get to the free soda machine, or over the body even, because they could care less.
-Fentanyl classes had to be given to my team in the event someone found something on the ground. I am glad we did that as a company, but sad it was there and that common.
-Someone throw themselves off the parking structure.
-Don't get me started on Covid handling both pre and post closure.
Needless to say, I am long and gone out of that world. I NEVER gamble.
-People s**t and p**s on themselves so they don't have to leave a machine. S**t in the line to the buffet and roll it down their pant leg so they don't lose their spot. Completely not even batting an eye at their actions. I have more s**t / p**s stories than I care to share.
-People get an opportunity to buy a home, finally, and find out they can't get a lone because 95% of their income has gone into the casino for years.
-Someone die, just to have people try to step around the barrier to get to the free soda machine, or over the body even, because they could care less.
-Fentanyl classes had to be given to my team in the event someone found something on the ground. I am glad we did that as a company, but sad it was there and that common.
-Someone throw themselves off the parking structure.
-Don't get me started on Covid handling both pre and post closure.
Needless to say, I am long and gone out of that world. I NEVER gamble.
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37points
#5
I worked at a casino over a decade ago, but here's mine: Somebody won a small jackpot, something like $2000. When checking her ID for tax paperwork it was discovered that she had put herself on the state's problem gambler self-exclusion list, which meant the casino was obligated to remove her from the building without paying (she wouldn't have been allowed in the building if she had been recognized). While double checking the manager downloaded an updated list (we auto-checked against a local copy that was sometimes a few days out of date) and it showed that she had removed herself from the list with sufficient notice, so the jackpot was paid out.
She proceeded to put every penny of the jackpot back into the slot machine... And also made a couple visits to the ATM... And at the end of her stay she asked the cashiers if she could be put back on the self-exclusion list.
She proceeded to put every penny of the jackpot back into the slot machine... And also made a couple visits to the ATM... And at the end of her stay she asked the cashiers if she could be put back on the self-exclusion list.
33points
#6
I worked a whole host of positions in Casinos over the course of 6-7 years. In that time I saw a lot of really funny, really sad, and really frustrating things.
The one that hurt me the most was seeing the father of one of my Highschool friends coming in over the course of the years. He started showing up every now and then when I was 19 and had my first job there. He was an older guy (late 50's-early 60's) but still pretty healthy, had a lot of money, drove a nice car had a nice house, even owned a small plane that he flew recreationally. Slowly but surely he was coming in more and more frequently though. He started gaining more weight, he was looking more pale and sickly, drank almost constantly. It turned out that his home situation was going downhill fast. He and my friend (his son) had a massive falling out, and eventually his wife left him and took their other daughter with her. He had nothing left but his money and himself, and even that didn't last. He was never winning anything and had to have lost millions in that time frame. He was in the building for days at a time without moving from his machine. Because of that and the amount of alcohol he was consuming combined with the lack of sleep, aging body, and constant second hand smoke exposure, his health was quickly plummeting. He was always nice and happy to talk to anyone, but even that didn't last as he started snapping at every little thing and not interacting with anyone at all.
I left that job years ago but every now and then my family will go back to that same casino and see him at his same machine looking like a husk of his former self. Even now that s**t is heartbreaking to me. Gambling addiction is a dangerous horrible thing, but you never really realize just how bad it is until you see someone you've known your entire life driven to the very brink by it.
The one that hurt me the most was seeing the father of one of my Highschool friends coming in over the course of the years. He started showing up every now and then when I was 19 and had my first job there. He was an older guy (late 50's-early 60's) but still pretty healthy, had a lot of money, drove a nice car had a nice house, even owned a small plane that he flew recreationally. Slowly but surely he was coming in more and more frequently though. He started gaining more weight, he was looking more pale and sickly, drank almost constantly. It turned out that his home situation was going downhill fast. He and my friend (his son) had a massive falling out, and eventually his wife left him and took their other daughter with her. He had nothing left but his money and himself, and even that didn't last. He was never winning anything and had to have lost millions in that time frame. He was in the building for days at a time without moving from his machine. Because of that and the amount of alcohol he was consuming combined with the lack of sleep, aging body, and constant second hand smoke exposure, his health was quickly plummeting. He was always nice and happy to talk to anyone, but even that didn't last as he started snapping at every little thing and not interacting with anyone at all.
I left that job years ago but every now and then my family will go back to that same casino and see him at his same machine looking like a husk of his former self. Even now that s**t is heartbreaking to me. Gambling addiction is a dangerous horrible thing, but you never really realize just how bad it is until you see someone you've known your entire life driven to the very brink by it.
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32points
The American Psychological Association warns that it’s not just physical casinos that are making it easier to gamble: there’s also easy access to lotteries, sports betting, online gambling games, and video games with gambling elements.
This means that gambling is easily available and accessible 24/7 for people of all ages. And that’s a very scary thought. Adults aren’t the only ones affected. Teenagers and even young kids can fall deep into gambling addiction, too. This, in turn, can have extremely negative consequences for their future development.
#7
I'm not a casino worker but have gambling addicted parents.
I live on the gulf coast, my parents live in the midwest. My daughters are 2 and 4 and they only recently met my parents for the first time very briefly in a casino lobby only because my parents have gambled so much at MGM they offered to fly them down to Biloxi MS and give them a hotel and a bunch of free plays.
After we put the kids to bed, my wife told me to go down to the casino and have fun. I think I withdrew $150 to play a few slot machines and basically spend some time with my mom and dad. It was around 10:30 p.m., and my machine hit for a little over $1,500. I hit the collect button and said to my mom, "I'm done... I expected to lose all the money I brought here and I'm going to use this money to compensate for the trip and buy some new clothes for my daughters upcoming school year"
My mother became upset and said "it's only 10:30...? Live a little, and you're on a 'hot streak' 🔥 I bet if you continue playing you could turn that $1,500 into $3000." I said 'No.. my kids will be up at 6:30 AM... and I can't afford to lose sleep, stay out late and the probability of me being able to win 10X the money I came here with itself is way more than I could have asked for, and the probability of me winning more than what i have already won is way... way... less odds... I'm taking my chips and cashing out."
My mother then had some choice words with me and became unhinged.... saying things like "there you go with that math s**t (my major is in mathematics/computer engineering)."" Ohh, look at you so educated, and you know how all these machines work....
S**t was hurtful...
This is why I hate casinos... they destroy people....
The only plus side is when my parents do pass away, they won't have anything left because the majority of their wealth has been transferred to the casino.
Thankfully, both my sister and I are very successful, and in reality, sorting out their estate will be more of a burden than a windfall.
I live on the gulf coast, my parents live in the midwest. My daughters are 2 and 4 and they only recently met my parents for the first time very briefly in a casino lobby only because my parents have gambled so much at MGM they offered to fly them down to Biloxi MS and give them a hotel and a bunch of free plays.
After we put the kids to bed, my wife told me to go down to the casino and have fun. I think I withdrew $150 to play a few slot machines and basically spend some time with my mom and dad. It was around 10:30 p.m., and my machine hit for a little over $1,500. I hit the collect button and said to my mom, "I'm done... I expected to lose all the money I brought here and I'm going to use this money to compensate for the trip and buy some new clothes for my daughters upcoming school year"
My mother became upset and said "it's only 10:30...? Live a little, and you're on a 'hot streak' 🔥 I bet if you continue playing you could turn that $1,500 into $3000." I said 'No.. my kids will be up at 6:30 AM... and I can't afford to lose sleep, stay out late and the probability of me being able to win 10X the money I came here with itself is way more than I could have asked for, and the probability of me winning more than what i have already won is way... way... less odds... I'm taking my chips and cashing out."
My mother then had some choice words with me and became unhinged.... saying things like "there you go with that math s**t (my major is in mathematics/computer engineering)."" Ohh, look at you so educated, and you know how all these machines work....
S**t was hurtful...
This is why I hate casinos... they destroy people....
The only plus side is when my parents do pass away, they won't have anything left because the majority of their wealth has been transferred to the casino.
Thankfully, both my sister and I are very successful, and in reality, sorting out their estate will be more of a burden than a windfall.
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32points
#8
I was driving cross country for work and stopped in West Memphis for the night. Went to the casino to burn a few hours. From my machine I saw a lady playing slots with tears running down her face. I heard her scream and looked up to realize the machine hit zero and she started bawling uncontrollably. She was screaming that she had nothing left and to please have her money back. Got removed by security. I hit for $150 and cashed out but the walk to my car was terrifying. I'm not a target demographic for mugging, but the desperation on people's faces was noticeable. Never going there again.
29points
#9
My first December working in the casino I'm still at. I was on a blackjack table and a guy sits down and drops $1565 on the table and tells the dealer "dealer, my family's about to have a great Christmas or no Christmas"
20 minutes later it's gone and he asks the dealer if she's happy with herself and how well the casino has to be paying her.
Never saw the guy again(our casino is 95% repeat customers) so I wouldn't be surprised if that actually was his Christmas money.
20 minutes later it's gone and he asks the dealer if she's happy with herself and how well the casino has to be paying her.
Never saw the guy again(our casino is 95% repeat customers) so I wouldn't be surprised if that actually was his Christmas money.
26points
According to the APA, the people most vulnerable to gambling problems and addiction are young and male. Research shows that people in their early twenties are the fastest-growing cohort of gamblers. Terrifyingly, in a 2018 Canadian survey, almost two-thirds of kids aged 12-18 admitted that they have either gambled or played games with gambling-like elements over the past year.
There are serious concerns about the fact that kids are exposed to ads where athletes and well-known sports figures promote sports betting and gambling. “It’s the wild, wild west with regard to gambling,” says social worker Lia Nower, JD, PhD, the director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University.
Have you or your loved ones ever had to overcome addiction? Have you ever seen someone you care about struggle with gambling? What did you do to help them?
#10
Was in AC 20 years ago. it was midnight and there were a bunch of small kids sleeping on coats outside the casino floor… in the bathroom alone, etc.
26points
#11
I was a bartender in a local casino and especially older people would sit at my bar 8-10 hours a day, feeding money into the bar top machines, all while talking about their homes being foreclosed on, their lights getting shut off, etc. They got free pop, coffee, juice, and then after feeding all this money in them, would tell me, "Sorry I cant tip you, I have to watch my money!".. not even a damn dollar. I had to quit because the whole scene went against what I believe. My next door neighbor came in one day and asked me if I could lend them $300.00 cause this machine was "getting ready to hit". He said he was in there to win money to pay his light bill. That was a big fat NO!
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26points
#12
Worked Valet at a casino. One night we got the car and they dropped it off, left the keys in (normal here). I hopped in to move it and it smelled like death. I moved the car and informed my super. He called the cops as it was the smell of a decaying body.
Cops came and we opened the truck.... full of groceries.... from 4 months ago.... in the missouri summer heat. It was chicken. They came to claim their car and were told to not park here in valet again
They said the person who normally carries their groceries up to their second floor apartment left and they don't have anyone to help them anymore. So now they go to casinos and eat out every night....
They didn't have money to do this, no idea where it came from. I will never gamble or go to a casino after working valet those years. Many many more stories.
Cops came and we opened the truck.... full of groceries.... from 4 months ago.... in the missouri summer heat. It was chicken. They came to claim their car and were told to not park here in valet again
They said the person who normally carries their groceries up to their second floor apartment left and they don't have anyone to help them anymore. So now they go to casinos and eat out every night....
They didn't have money to do this, no idea where it came from. I will never gamble or go to a casino after working valet those years. Many many more stories.
24points
#13
I have several stories. I worked as a cashier and also a slot attendant for 5 years.
The worst was when a guy was just sitting at a slot machine with a bewildered look on his face. Like he was in shock. I asked him if he was ok, could I get him a water? He just looked at me and said, "I need help, man. This just isn't fun anymore."
I called my manager on the radio and asked him to grab a casino host, then sat down with him. A casino host couldn't help, but he could take him to a quiet area to talk. My manager came by, I introduced the player and said, "Guy_name is having a hard time right now. Think we can all go somewhere quiet and talk?" The manager took it from there, but I felt so bad for him. He was just quietly crying in desperation and whatever realization he had just experienced.
As a cashier, my first Christmas Eve there was the first time I'd ever worked on Christmas Eve in my 28 years. It was also the first Christmas I hadn't been with my family. Around 8 or 9pm, a lady came to my cashier window and asked for $250 in quarter tokens (several years before paper tickets). I did the thing and she said, "No, no, no baby! You've got to put some extra luck on these! I need to win, I haven't bought my babies anything for Christmas yet." I tapped them twice, wiggled my fingers towards the quarters and squinched my eyes, and said, "Done! That was all the luck I brought tonight!" Ol girl was tickled pink, she just knew she was gonna get that jackpot for her babies!
Another cashier sat with me at dinner break and told me it only gets easier after that. She lied.
Last one for now was the lady who had just won a $5000 or $10,000 jackpot on a dime machine. It was very clear she didn't want it. Turned out she was banned for her gambling addiction and behavior. She was begging to just forget we saw her and give it to anyone else. She just wanted to play. Unfortunately, the law is the law and she was handcuffed by gaming officials and arrested.
White: Just thought of another good one. It was an employee this time. She got caught stealing tips players have to the slot attendant.
The cool thing about casinos is when they catch you, they make note of it, save the video evidence, and do nothing other than add to a report. Once the employee steals enough, I think $500, it's a state felony because technically every non-player penny inside a casino is state property because it's state regulated. Like a bank is federal.
So they catch a co-worker stealing tips. One day she's just coming on shift and is counting into her jackpot payout bank when gaming stops by and starts talking to her. Gaming guys aren't friendly if they have to leave their office. They're like extra angry chihuahua's that haven't eaten for days and suddenly are being teased with hot dogs, small children's fingers, and pupperonis. Everyone in uniform stops and backs up, then they start loudly reading her her rights. Not only was she arrested, but she got called out in front of everyone she was stealing from.
The worst was when a guy was just sitting at a slot machine with a bewildered look on his face. Like he was in shock. I asked him if he was ok, could I get him a water? He just looked at me and said, "I need help, man. This just isn't fun anymore."
I called my manager on the radio and asked him to grab a casino host, then sat down with him. A casino host couldn't help, but he could take him to a quiet area to talk. My manager came by, I introduced the player and said, "Guy_name is having a hard time right now. Think we can all go somewhere quiet and talk?" The manager took it from there, but I felt so bad for him. He was just quietly crying in desperation and whatever realization he had just experienced.
As a cashier, my first Christmas Eve there was the first time I'd ever worked on Christmas Eve in my 28 years. It was also the first Christmas I hadn't been with my family. Around 8 or 9pm, a lady came to my cashier window and asked for $250 in quarter tokens (several years before paper tickets). I did the thing and she said, "No, no, no baby! You've got to put some extra luck on these! I need to win, I haven't bought my babies anything for Christmas yet." I tapped them twice, wiggled my fingers towards the quarters and squinched my eyes, and said, "Done! That was all the luck I brought tonight!" Ol girl was tickled pink, she just knew she was gonna get that jackpot for her babies!
Another cashier sat with me at dinner break and told me it only gets easier after that. She lied.
Last one for now was the lady who had just won a $5000 or $10,000 jackpot on a dime machine. It was very clear she didn't want it. Turned out she was banned for her gambling addiction and behavior. She was begging to just forget we saw her and give it to anyone else. She just wanted to play. Unfortunately, the law is the law and she was handcuffed by gaming officials and arrested.
White: Just thought of another good one. It was an employee this time. She got caught stealing tips players have to the slot attendant.
The cool thing about casinos is when they catch you, they make note of it, save the video evidence, and do nothing other than add to a report. Once the employee steals enough, I think $500, it's a state felony because technically every non-player penny inside a casino is state property because it's state regulated. Like a bank is federal.
So they catch a co-worker stealing tips. One day she's just coming on shift and is counting into her jackpot payout bank when gaming stops by and starts talking to her. Gaming guys aren't friendly if they have to leave their office. They're like extra angry chihuahua's that haven't eaten for days and suddenly are being teased with hot dogs, small children's fingers, and pupperonis. Everyone in uniform stops and backs up, then they start loudly reading her her rights. Not only was she arrested, but she got called out in front of everyone she was stealing from.
23points
#14
Former casino worker of 20 years.
I’ve seen a lot of things, but this one stands out to me. I was the games manager on shift and there was a lady in her 40s playing blackjack. She had been there a few hours and had made quite a few trips to the ATM and her buy ins were getting into the thousands of dollars.
I was doing paperwork in the pit when a dealer called me over while the lady was on another ATM trip and said she was crying just before. I kept an eye on her and after she lost a few more hands I could see the tears start and she was silently crying while playing. I went up and as discreetly as possible, asked her if she was ok and offered help through our partnered addictions help program. She looked me right in the face and got mad at me for asking and told me she’s fine and to leave her alone.
She was making staff very uncomfortable at that time and it was obvious she was crying more and more as she continued to play and lose. I made the decision to ask her to leave for the night and comped her cab ride home. I tried again to offer her information to organizations to help with her gambling again, but still not interested.
Addictions are heartbreaking to see and I really hope she was able to get help.
I’ve seen a lot of things, but this one stands out to me. I was the games manager on shift and there was a lady in her 40s playing blackjack. She had been there a few hours and had made quite a few trips to the ATM and her buy ins were getting into the thousands of dollars.
I was doing paperwork in the pit when a dealer called me over while the lady was on another ATM trip and said she was crying just before. I kept an eye on her and after she lost a few more hands I could see the tears start and she was silently crying while playing. I went up and as discreetly as possible, asked her if she was ok and offered help through our partnered addictions help program. She looked me right in the face and got mad at me for asking and told me she’s fine and to leave her alone.
She was making staff very uncomfortable at that time and it was obvious she was crying more and more as she continued to play and lose. I made the decision to ask her to leave for the night and comped her cab ride home. I tried again to offer her information to organizations to help with her gambling again, but still not interested.
Addictions are heartbreaking to see and I really hope she was able to get help.
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21points
#15
Not a worker, but I saw a guy try to bet his prosthetic arm in Vegas.
21points
#16
Former cage supervisor - in the span of a month, 2 people jumped off the top of our 6 story parking garage.
Saddest part was that when it happened the second time, all the staff were just like "Really? Again? That's inconvenient".
Saddest part was that when it happened the second time, all the staff were just like "Really? Again? That's inconvenient".
20points
#17
I wish the guy who worked the blackjack table at the casino my dad went to could respond here about stories of my dad.
My father had a successful plumbing and sewer company in Miami. If it wasn't for his addiction, we would probably be millionaires, and I would have taken over the now defunct corporation. My sister told me a story that he won $10,000 and proceeded to lose it all and about $15,000 more in one night. I feel for anyone who has this horrible addiction and the ones affected by it.
My father had a successful plumbing and sewer company in Miami. If it wasn't for his addiction, we would probably be millionaires, and I would have taken over the now defunct corporation. My sister told me a story that he won $10,000 and proceeded to lose it all and about $15,000 more in one night. I feel for anyone who has this horrible addiction and the ones affected by it.
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20points
#18
He bankrupted a casino. A CASINO! People line up to throw their money away. He f****d that up!?
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20points
#19
I worked a bank near an Indian casino. The casino bus would park near the retirement home and shuttle the people to the casino whenever social security checks cleared. Those who had accounts with us would come the next day trying to halt any payments because of "fraud" from the casinos. Every month.
20points
#20
I spent a lot of time in the casino, my dad had a gambling problem, it’s sad to watch your hero fall but he pulled himself out and away from that but the things I’ve seen….
Seen a blind Chinese man come in with his bodyguards to help him gamble
I’ve seen couples blow their entire money and just stand there looking at each other half in tears
I sat next to a woman who lost it all and just couldn’t bring herself to get off the chair because reality wasn’t setting in
My dad used to really hit it big, and once he would make me play on one machine and he plays on the other…. His was losing and mine started winning big I got shoved off that seat so fast….
I don’t miss that place it’s full of greed and misery.
Seen a blind Chinese man come in with his bodyguards to help him gamble
I’ve seen couples blow their entire money and just stand there looking at each other half in tears
I sat next to a woman who lost it all and just couldn’t bring herself to get off the chair because reality wasn’t setting in
My dad used to really hit it big, and once he would make me play on one machine and he plays on the other…. His was losing and mine started winning big I got shoved off that seat so fast….
I don’t miss that place it’s full of greed and misery.
19points