Playing it Safe
How to protect yourself and your valuables in a casino
by Stacy Herriott

It's a scenario familiar to most casino players. You're feeling lucky, engrossed in your favorite game, and enjoying an ice-cold cocktail. The last things on your mind are personal safety or having your valuables stolen. After all, there are plenty of security guards casting a watchful eye on the action, and cameras seem to be at every turn. But, as true as this may be, it only takes seconds to be a victim of a crime right at your slot machine or table game. It can happen faster than you can say "jackpot."

While casinos do everything within their power to ensure your visit is safe and fun, it's nearly impossible to nab every crook and scam artist that walks through the door. As in a mall or even your own home, you need to exercise good judgment and common sense in a casino resort. By following a few tips and suggestions from several travel safety experts, you won't have to gamble with your well being.

Beware of Scam Artists
During a recent visit to her favorite casino, Mary Becker was playing a Red, White & Blue $1 slot when a well-dressed man gently tapped her on the shoulder. As expected, she turned around and asked him what he wanted.

"Excuse me ma'am, but it looks like you dropped a few coins on the floor," he said.

"Oops! Thank you so much young man," she said while picking up two $1 tokens from the carpet just below her chair.

The man walked away and Mary continued playing the slot while sipping her gin and tonic. When her machine began running low on credits, Mary reached for her coin cup, only to realize it was gone.

"This is one of the most common tricks in the book," says Marion Howard, executive director of security at Tropicana Atlantic City. "Through this 'distraction method,' a thief tells the player they've dropped something. In most cases, when the player picks up the money, another thief grabs the coin cup or purse. A lot of times, these people work in teams. It's hard for players to realize it's a scam, especially when the crooks are dressed like a high roller or business person."

Unfortunately, this is just one of the ways players get ripped off in the casino.

"The public needs to realize that a casino deals in cash, so there's a lot of money going in and out at every minute," says Alan W. Zajic, a casino security expert. "This really creates a magnet for thieves and con men. A good crook can walk into a casino and steal several thousands of dollars from customers in just two to three minutes. It's almost unbelievable considering all the money casinos spend on security systems and personnel, but it happens all the time."

Daniel Watts knows what it feels like to be a thief's target. He was having a blast at craps, enjoying the best lucky streak he'd had since he began playing the game 10 years ago. It was almost midnight on a Saturday night and the table was packed with players and onlookers. A stocky man, wearing jeans and a black, stained T-shirt, was standing behind Daniel and cheering him on. Daniel high-fived his new buddy after winning $600, leaned forward, rolled the dice again and hoped his good fortune would continue. He may have won the bet, but several of his chips mysteriously disappeared from the rail. Not surprisingly, Daniel's fan had also vanished.

So, what exactly happened? Daniel was a victim of rail theft, which occurs most frequently at the craps tables. These crooks steal chips with the subtly of a trained slight-of-hand artist.

Jim Cudney, security manager at Harrah's Las Vegas, says Daniel could have avoided the incident by keeping the chips in his hands or front pockets.

"These folks are professionals and operate by pretending they're cheering for you. You really need to be skeptical of strangers routing for you, especially if they're just a face in the crowd," Cudney says. "In Daniel's situation, it probably only took the thief a split second to reach under his arms and steal the chips when he went to roll the dice. Some of these crooks are so quick, they're like magicians. It's almost undetectable."

For many, it's difficult not to trust people; excitement surrounds the casino, and all of the employees are friendly. Carol Tuse made the mistake of trusting a stranger. It happened just a few months ago, at a casino she was visiting for the first time. She was nestled in front of a video poker machine when a middle-aged woman asked her if she needed change. Carol quickly handed her $100, but it didn't take long for her to realize she'd been swindled-the woman took the money and ran.

Looking back, Carol says the woman didn't have a name badge, but she was meticulously dressed. "I assumed she was a casino employee," she notes.

Never assume anything, says Floria Lamey, director of security and risk manager at Casino Magic in Biloxi, MS. "When dealing with any type of monetary transaction, go the extra mile to make sure the employee has proper identification. It's easy to be fooled by appearance because when we think of a thief, we don't get a picture of a clean-cut person wearing nice clothing."

Carol also made the mistake of thinking the casino's cameras and security staff would eliminate her chances of being a victim. "As far as cameras and security go, I've seen both really great and extremely bad operations in casinos throughout the country," Zajic says. "Just because there are cameras and security guards, people think they are immune from crime. It's nice to think every square inch of the casino is covered, but that's just not realistic.

"Think about it, can you expect the police to keep crime away from the city you live in? I'm not saying that people need to be scared in a casino, but they really should be aware of their surroundings. Basically, it's exercising the same precautions as if you were shopping in a mall, waiting in an airport or in any other busy public place."

According to Zajic, casino players often fall prey to "get rich quick" schemes. "This problem is most common in Nevada's casinos," he explains. "Scammers will tell players they have a way to beat the system or know an employee in the casino who can help them double their money. If approached by one of these creeps, the player should take a mental picture of them and quickly report it to the nearest security guard or employee."

The Key to Hotel Room Safety
Don't be fooled by thinking scam artists and crooks are only ripping off casino players. The hotel portion of a gaming resort is just as susceptible to crime.

Jerry and Melissa Ranhoe were startled by a call in their room from an employee who said he needed to stop by to repair something in the bathroom. Since they didn't request any type of maintenance service, Jerry was skeptical and asked for the employee's name. He then called the front desk and they were able verify the call was legitimate.

"The couple was very smart in this situation," says Pat Richter, director of security at Harrah's Atlantic City. "The same thing applies if someone comes to your hotel room with a bottle of wine or a meal you didn't order. It only takes a minute for the front desk to verify a particular service."

Hotel guests should also be wary of callers requesting credit card information. In a newer scam, thieves phone guestrooms posing as hotel staff. Once they identify themselves, they request to confirm the credit card number and expiration date.

"Unfortunately," says Kevin Coffey, a police detective and security consultant to the travel industry, "people provide this information, thinking 'why can't they ever get these numbers straight?' and go about their business. Then, the customer's credit card statement arrives full of charges they never made. Like all effective scams, this one is simple, doesn't arouse suspicion, and gives the thieves plenty of time to work.

"The bottom line is never to give out any credit card information on an incoming call," he stresses. "Also remember that asking for a number to call back is not enough. Clever thieves will come up with one, so guests should independently acquire the number and call it. If your call is a scam, contact the front desk or security immediately."

Outside the guestroom, hotel patrons should exercise caution when stepping onto the elevator and walking to their room. According to Zajic, thieves watch for players who win a jackpot and follow them to their rooms.

This was the case for Larry Jessie, who had just cashed in more than $2,000 in casino chips after a hot streak at the blackjack table. He noticed an older lady who watched him leave the table and go to the cashier's cage. The lady then waited around while he ate apple pie in the coffee shop. Larry, who was traveling alone, asked a security guard to escort him to his room.

"There are a few things you can do in this scenario," says John Peter Suarez, director for New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement. "Security personnel are always available to walk customers to their rooms if they're feeling uncomfortable. When large sums of cash are involved, I strongly recommend putting the money in a safety deposit box, which is available at most casinos' hotel desks. There's also the option keeping a paid marker. This way, you can withdrawal the money as you need it and you're not walking around with a wad of cash. Remember, thieves seek out victims, so you don't want to be carrying around coin cups while casino hopping on the streets, walking on the Boardwalk or riding shuttle buses. It's better to cash-in before you go."

These days, many casino resorts feature a security podium at the hotel elevator entrance to protect guests from unwanted visitors. "This has been a very effective tool for increasing hotel safety," says Dan Redding, director of security and facilities at the Reserve in Las Vegas. "People can't step into the elevator without presenting a hotel key to the guard on duty."

Even if the hotel has security posted near the elevators, guests are encouraged to use their peepholes when someone knocks at the door and to keep it locked and chained at all times. "A lot of people check their common sense at the door when they're traveling," Tropicana's Howard says. "Would you leave your door unlocked at home? No. Would you answer the door for a stranger at home? No. But for some reason people don't exercise those same precautions in a hotel and risk becoming a victim of a serious crime."

Lost & Found
While using in-room safes to secure valuables is easy, keeping track of these items elsewhere requires a little more effort. Emily Harris nearly went into a panic after she realized her Visa card was missing. Her hands trembled as she combed through her purse in hopes it had fallen out of her leather wallet. No such luck. It was difficult for her to imagine where she had left the card because she had been to several casinos, shops, and restaurants throughout the day. She says her first instinct was to revisit all the places she had patronized.

"As soon as Emily realized her credit card was missing, she should have immediately contacted security and let us investigate the situation," the Reserve's Redding says. "At most casinos, security is the initial contact for lost or stolen credit cards. I can't stress how important it is to report the card missing ASAP. We log the time a guest reports the incident and it helps build an alibi for them. This is critical when it comes time for the credit card company to determine which charges the guest is responsible for.

"We also have the ability to contact all cashiers in the building to find out if the card was left in a restaurant or at the front desk," he continues. "One of the most common places people leave their cards is at the front desk during check-in. People are excited to be at the casino or anxious to get to their favorite game, and walk away without their cards."

Missing credit cards aren't as frequent a problem as purse and wallet theft. In fact, it's the biggest issue facing casino security departments from Atlantic City to Nevada. Experts advise casino guests to keep purses and wallets close to the body, especially in busy areas or in situations where crowds are expected (such as show lines, buffet and promotions booths). In these situations, it's wise to carry cash, credit cards and other valuables in front pockets or in a fanny pack.

"You really shouldn't bring more into the casino than you need. Women should keep their purses securely strapped through their arms and never hang it off the back of a chair," the Reserve's Redding says. "Men tend to make the mistake of putting their billfold in front of the slot machine or on the table game. That's like waving over a thief and handing over your belongings."

Guests should also be cautious of their belongings in restrooms. Many crooks stalk these areas just waiting for the prefect opportunity to strike. "You should always place your purse on the lowest hook inside the stall or in the Plexiglas purse holder most casinos feature," Harrah's Richter says. "Never place your bag on the top hook because thieves can reach over the stall door and grab it. This particular hook is meant for coats, not purses. Of course, you should also refrain from placing it on the floor because all a person has to do is drag it over to the next stall with their foot and the bolt out the door."

In addition to assisting with missing credit cards and protecting guests, most casino security departments are responsible for the "Lost & Found" department. "If guests lose or find an item, they should go directly to security," Richter explains. "Through my experience, I've learned that guests think if they've lost an item, there's very little chance they'll be able to retrieve it. But it never hurts to check lost and found. We have tons of items that go unclaimed every year and end up donating them to charity."

One item consumers never want to lose is an ATM card, which can be a thief's ticket to personal funds. Since it can be easy to get distracted at an ATM in a crowded casino, it's important to always remember to remove the card from the machine once the transaction is completed.

"People also need to be alert to strangers lurking around ATMs," Zajic says. "There've been several cases where an innocent-looking, little old lady pretends she doesn't know how to operate the ATM machine. She'll then ask someone how it works. Before they know it, she's either memorized their pin number by watching their transaction or stolen their wallet or purse."

Park it Here
Joe Hart had been inside the casino for nearly 10 hours when he decided to go home and watch his favorite television program, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. He searched the parking lot for nearly 15 minutes and still couldn't locate his '95 sky-blue Chevy. It was dark and difficult for him to see, but he continued walking up and down the lot.

"Guests should always try to find a point of identification when arriving in the casino's parking lot or garage. In Hart's case, he should have walked back to the casino and asked security to help him find his car. Any casino would be more than happy to help," the Reserve's Redding says. "Unfortunately, people are too embarrassed to ask for assistance and end up putting themselves in a dangerous situation. I've heard of cases where people get hit by a car because they become disoriented looking for their vehicle, or in places like Nevada, end up with heat exhaustion."

There's no reason for a customer to be shy about asking security for an escort to their car, especially if they are feeling uncomfortable or think someone has been following them. It's a free service all casinos provide to their guests upon request.

"Always ask for an escort if you have a bad feeling," Tropicana's Howard says. "It's part of our job."

The job of a security guard isn't viewed as a tipped position by most casinos, but it is acceptable to give them a token of appreciation. "Security guards don't expect a gratuity. A simple 'thank you' is fine, but a tip is greatly appreciated if the customer feels as though the employee really went out of their way to help them." Howard says. "From my point of view, one of the best things a customer can do is write a thank you letter to the security supervisor and the employee who helped."

Some other fundamental safety measures to consider when traveling to a casino by car is to park near the casino entrance or elevators, and always have car keys in hand when walking to the vehicle.

"Before leaving the car, guests should remove any shopping bags or valuables that are in clear view," Coffey suggests. "Secure everything in the trunk to avoid a car burglary."

While crimes like purse thefts and car robberies occur at casinos across America, security experts say there is no reason for patrons to feel unsafe or threatened.

"People should never change their personal attitude toward life because they are worried about being a victim," Zajic notes. "They just need to recognize there are some bad people out there. Also note that the good people really outweigh the bad. What it really boils down to is, don't leave your good judgement and common sense at home. Even if you're not in a casino resort, you still need to always be aware of your surroundings."