You probably already know from movies and social issue adverts not to gamble. But if you happen to step inside a casino, some of the things you can witness there are truly off the hook. Huge sums of money being won and lost can make people do bizarre and disturbing things. It’s a crash course in the best and worst of humanity.
Casino employees and regulars alike spilled the tea about the wildest things they’ve ever seen, and it was like watching a roadside car crash. It’s terrifying, but you can’t look away. We’ve curated their most powerful stories to share with you below. Let them serve as a warning!
#1
Former poker dealer here.
Dealing a $55 sit-n-go (single table tourney) when this woman walks up to the table with a newborn baby in a car seat, proceeds to put the baby in the middle of the table and yells at the guy sitting in seat #4-
“if you don’t want to come home to watch him, you can watch him here!!”
She then storms off leaving the baby at the table.
Dude wisely grabs the baby and takes off after his wife.
Everyone was pretty shocked, so to cut the tension I said “that’s not how you raise a baby, it’s table stakes!”
This was in Florida, but you all probably assumed that.
Dealing a $55 sit-n-go (single table tourney) when this woman walks up to the table with a newborn baby in a car seat, proceeds to put the baby in the middle of the table and yells at the guy sitting in seat #4-
“if you don’t want to come home to watch him, you can watch him here!!”
She then storms off leaving the baby at the table.
Dude wisely grabs the baby and takes off after his wife.
Everyone was pretty shocked, so to cut the tension I said “that’s not how you raise a baby, it’s table stakes!”
This was in Florida, but you all probably assumed that.
Report
7points
#2
A casino in South Africa had an incident where a guy lost all his life savings there. He returned later, poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire. Quite tragic honestly, I can't remember if they managed to put him out or he perished.
Report
7points
#3
I worked room service.
I was taking some wine to a guest and went to the elevator. As the door opens there's this older (at the time) gentleman huddled on the floor in the corner wearing what seemed to be a nice suit.
I asked him if he was okay, if I should call someone.
He just says matter of factly "I lost a million dollars".
I didn't know what to say and had the most uncomfortable elevator ride of my life.
I was taking some wine to a guest and went to the elevator. As the door opens there's this older (at the time) gentleman huddled on the floor in the corner wearing what seemed to be a nice suit.
I asked him if he was okay, if I should call someone.
He just says matter of factly "I lost a million dollars".
I didn't know what to say and had the most uncomfortable elevator ride of my life.
Report
6points
As Mayo Clinic explains, if you are a compulsive gambler, your absolute priority should be… not to gamble. At all! In any shape or form. This involves avoiding situations that might trigger your impulses to make bets.
“Tell yourself it's too risky to gamble at all. One bet typically leads to another and another. Give yourself permission to ask for help, as sheer willpower isn't enough to overcome compulsive gambling. Ask a family member or friend to encourage you to follow your treatment plan.”
There are a few main strategies that can help individuals dealing with these challenges. Behavioral therapy can help teach you skills to reduce your urges to gamble. Meanwhile, cognitive behavioral therapy can aid you in identifying unhealthy, irrational, and negative beliefs, and then replacing them with healthy ones.
Alternatively, your doctor may suggest that you start taking antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Self-help groups and talking about your issues with other people in the same boat as you can also be a big help.
#4
I used to be a dealer at a casino, we had a regular who would spend all day at the tables. He voluntarily had a catheter so he wouldn’t have to get up and “break his winning streak”, he bragged about this, but he rarely ever won. Then of course your run of the mill cheaters, people who owed other people thousand upon thousands of dollars, people who would come in and bet their kids saved up money. It’s all mostly just sad.
Report
6points
#5
Drunk guy walking in with a five pound note and leaving with 41K (this was in the late 80's as well, you could have bought a house with that money then).
Had a cigar stubbed out on the back of my hand when dealing blackjack (I still have the scar to this day). I slapped the player that did it. Next day the manager pulls me into the office and said the player was sorry and an apology was needed. He meant I was the one who should apologize.
I quit on the spot, bought a ticket to Miami and knocked on every cruise line company's door until I found a casino job. I was 19 at the time and bulletproof.
Had a cigar stubbed out on the back of my hand when dealing blackjack (I still have the scar to this day). I slapped the player that did it. Next day the manager pulls me into the office and said the player was sorry and an apology was needed. He meant I was the one who should apologize.
I quit on the spot, bought a ticket to Miami and knocked on every cruise line company's door until I found a casino job. I was 19 at the time and bulletproof.
Report
5points
#6
Not a regular but I remeber my early twenties sitting down at a poker table and getting friendly with everyone else at the table. The guy on the left told me he was down 50k but he was not leaving the table until he made it back..... since I was staying at the casino I came down for lunch the next day... he was still at that table..... part of my hopes he made it back... part of me knows he didn't.
Report
5points
Meanwhile, HelpGuide warns that if your loved one has a gambling problem, then you likely have lots of conflicting emotions.
“You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade. Your loved one may have borrowed or even stolen money with no way to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run up huge debts on joint credit cards.”
At the end of the day, no matter how much support from family and friends can be a boon, it is still the gambler’s decision to quit. In short, you can’t make someone stop gambling.
All you can do is encourage them to get help, support them during their recovery, and protect your well-being (and resources).
#7
I've seen a few things as a patron:
The track lighting above a bank of slots caught on fire. Flaming bits were raining down on the machine. Security had to drag people away from the machines, they were still sitting there brushing ash and embers off the screen and out of their hair.
A leak in the ceiling of the casino was dripping water on the players. Attendants wanted to shut down the bank of machines but the players wanted to keep playing, so security got a big clear plastic sheet and covered the bank of machines and the players sitting at them.
Playing roulette and this guy comes up to the table, places his dad's police badge on the table, the number on the badge was a double or a triple (like 4545 or 353535). He places $100 on the corresponding number. Hits the number, gets paid out $3500. Asks if he can let the $3600 ride. They allow it, he hits again. Wins $126k. Asks if he can let the whole $129.6k ride again, they say no. He asks if he can let the $3600 ride and they allow it. He hits again, wins another $126k. Picks up his dad's badge and cashed in. A cool quarter million in 3 spins of the roulette wheel. If they'd let him play the full amount, they would have paid out more than $4.5 million. For the next couple of spins, everyone on the table was playing that same number but it never hit again.
The track lighting above a bank of slots caught on fire. Flaming bits were raining down on the machine. Security had to drag people away from the machines, they were still sitting there brushing ash and embers off the screen and out of their hair.
A leak in the ceiling of the casino was dripping water on the players. Attendants wanted to shut down the bank of machines but the players wanted to keep playing, so security got a big clear plastic sheet and covered the bank of machines and the players sitting at them.
Playing roulette and this guy comes up to the table, places his dad's police badge on the table, the number on the badge was a double or a triple (like 4545 or 353535). He places $100 on the corresponding number. Hits the number, gets paid out $3500. Asks if he can let the $3600 ride. They allow it, he hits again. Wins $126k. Asks if he can let the whole $129.6k ride again, they say no. He asks if he can let the $3600 ride and they allow it. He hits again, wins another $126k. Picks up his dad's badge and cashed in. A cool quarter million in 3 spins of the roulette wheel. If they'd let him play the full amount, they would have paid out more than $4.5 million. For the next couple of spins, everyone on the table was playing that same number but it never hit again.
Report
5points
#8
Grandma’s in the low limit. Waiting at the door before open, staying until close, playing for 5 cents all day. Really sad to see. One day I found one deceased behind the machine. The casino didn’t close, only the low limit area.
Report
5points
#9
Didn't work in a casino, but i am a volunteer firefighter and during a local flood we got called in the casino basement because it was flooded. What shocked me was the water was about ankle height and people just kept playing on the machines...
Report
5points
If you’ve ever been inside a casino, what are the weirdest and most out-there things you’ve witnessed? Let us know in the comments.
Have you ever had issues with gambling or know someone who has had problems with it? How did you handle the situation? What advice would you give anyone who is struggling with similar challenges?
And remember, if you’re struggling with gambling, it is not a sign of weakness to reach out to a professional for help. You deserve to get better, for your and your loved ones’ sakes.
#10
Guy at the penny slots had a full diaper blowout, got mad at the machine like it robbed him, then kept feeding it singles with one hand while the other hand was holding his pants shut. Security didnt even blink, they just brought paper towels and told him to stop leaking on the chair. He cashed out $42 and left a wet ring on the seat like it was somebody elses problem.
5points
#11
I don’t have any good stories other than one ex-boyfriend who lost his house over a horrific dependency to electronic keno machines. The max payout is fairly low, the most I ever saw him win was $6,000. And he lost it all the same night. $75,000/yr job, $300,000 house… And he eventually lost it to those machines.
Gambling has been the saddest and strongest [habit] I’ve ever seen. And I have tried a lot of stuff, got hooked on a lot of stuff, and been around a lot of people on a lot of stuff.
Gambling has been the saddest and strongest [habit] I’ve ever seen. And I have tried a lot of stuff, got hooked on a lot of stuff, and been around a lot of people on a lot of stuff.
Report
5points
#12
A lady who would sit and play slots for hours wheeled her husband around in his wheelchair to keep him near. When she turned to talk to him, she found he’d gone unconscious. Staff called for EMS and we responded in a few minutes. On arrival he had no pulse and thus, wasn’t responsive. We needed to work him as a full code, chest compressions, meds, all that business. Thing is she had no idea how long he’d been out and the other people at their slot machines wouldn’t move out of the way to give us room to work the old man. They’d get angry when we’d ask them to move even for just a bit. “No way, this is MY machine. I’m NOT MOVING!” No mercy for strangers and no respect I guess.
Report
5points
#13
Husband had a heart attack and the EMT’s needed medication out of the wife’s purse. She couldn’t be bothered to get the medication as the slots handle wasn’t gonna pull itself. Husband passed away in the ambulance. She was charged with negligent homicide.
Report
5points
#14
Saw a person hit a 30k jackpot on 3 card poker. Gave it all back over the following weeks.
Saw a guy come in and bet 20k one one hand of baccarat. He thought he won, he lost.
Saw a guy turn down a 10k jackpot because it would be reported to the IRS and then his wife would find out he had been at the casino.
Watched my soul slowly being sucked into a vortex of depression and loathing.
Saw a coworker get taken out in hand cuffs because she had been stealing money with a group of players for months.
Saw a guy come in and bet 20k one one hand of baccarat. He thought he won, he lost.
Saw a guy turn down a 10k jackpot because it would be reported to the IRS and then his wife would find out he had been at the casino.
Watched my soul slowly being sucked into a vortex of depression and loathing.
Saw a coworker get taken out in hand cuffs because she had been stealing money with a group of players for months.
Report
5points
#15
When my brother started working for the local casino, he found out my family used to be wealthy, and my grandmother gambled away millions. She confessed that my grandfather had willed it to be for his kids and grandkids' college educations. I grew up poor, on welfare. I was furious.
Report
5points
#16
I used to work the main bank in a couple of casinos.
I kicked a pregnant lady out one night for trying to cash an out-of-state welfare check. I told her, "If you cash this, I will have it all in 20 minutes. I'll be calling the three other casinos in town to let them know you aren't allowed in tonight. Go home and take care of your kids."
She stormed out. The pit boss came over and said, "Officially, I'm supposed to tell you never to do anything like that again. Unofficially, good job."
I saw blackjack dealers cash their whole paycheck for dollar slot coins, and walk out broke twenty minutes later. I saw a Hollywood A-lister lose $25K on a craps table with a 25-cent minimum bet. I saw people broke-down on the road because they didn't have enough money to fill the gas tank to leave town. I saw a CFO lose $80K in one morning playing all 8 hands at a roped-off blackjack table. I also saw little kids locked in the car for eight hours because Mom was inside playing the slots.
I kicked a pregnant lady out one night for trying to cash an out-of-state welfare check. I told her, "If you cash this, I will have it all in 20 minutes. I'll be calling the three other casinos in town to let them know you aren't allowed in tonight. Go home and take care of your kids."
She stormed out. The pit boss came over and said, "Officially, I'm supposed to tell you never to do anything like that again. Unofficially, good job."
I saw blackjack dealers cash their whole paycheck for dollar slot coins, and walk out broke twenty minutes later. I saw a Hollywood A-lister lose $25K on a craps table with a 25-cent minimum bet. I saw people broke-down on the road because they didn't have enough money to fill the gas tank to leave town. I saw a CFO lose $80K in one morning playing all 8 hands at a roped-off blackjack table. I also saw little kids locked in the car for eight hours because Mom was inside playing the slots.
Report
5points
#17
Knew a detective at a casino: he started a shift, saw a guy at a slot machine. left his 8-10 hr shift, saw the guy still at the machine. came back AFTER THE WEEKEND AND SAW THE SAME GUY AT THE SAME MACHINE WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES.
He also said they weighed money bc counting was too slow. This applied to bills, not coins.
He also said they weighed money bc counting was too slow. This applied to bills, not coins.
Report
5points
#18
I used to do special events in Atlantic city casinos. Wedding and fundraisers and such. I remember once starting a load in at around 6am one morning and saw an old lady with a green oxygen tank at a slot machine next to the escalators. Had to go by her like 30 times. When we loaded out at 3am she was still there but with a red(stripe) oxygen tank. Someone changed out her tank so she could keep feeding 20s.
Report
5points
#19
Back in early 2000s the choctaw casino would allow, turn a blind eye, to people bringing kids and leaving them in the entry way of the casino. Im talking dozens of kids with sleeping bags and pillows and sippy cups at 2 in the morning while thier family was gambling away their rent money.
Report
5points
#20
Friend's wife was the admin assistant to the CFO or one of the executive finance directors in $LARGE_CASINO.
She told me about the *shelf of binders of home properties* that the casino now owned the mortgages to, because people had literally remortgaged their homes to keep gambling, lost, and lost their homes to the casino.
The CFO didn't want to be in the real-estate business, and was trying to figure out how to get rid of hundreds of residential properties people had lost to gambling.
Incredibly sad and sobering to hear.
She told me about the *shelf of binders of home properties* that the casino now owned the mortgages to, because people had literally remortgaged their homes to keep gambling, lost, and lost their homes to the casino.
The CFO didn't want to be in the real-estate business, and was trying to figure out how to get rid of hundreds of residential properties people had lost to gambling.
Incredibly sad and sobering to hear.
Report
5points