DES MOINES, Iowa — A man who won more than $9,000 at an Iowa casino can't collect his winnings because he was banned from the casino 10 years earlier, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday.
The court found that Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona "had the authority to withhold winnings from a person who had been involuntary excluded."
The case involved Troy Blackford, who won $9,387 on May 5, 2006. Because of the size of the jackpot, Prairie Meadows had to issue a W-2 immediately for tax purposes. Casino officials then learned that Blackford had been banned in 1996.
According to court documents, Blackford had been issued a "trespass ban" because he hit and damaged a slot machine. The ban, according to Prairie Meadows, was permanent.
Blackford pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and paid a fine. He was found at the casino in March 1998 and was escorted out. He pleaded guilty to trespassing and paid another fine.
When Blackford hit the jackpot in 2006, Prairie Meadows' records indicated that he was still banned. He was escorted to the security office and his winnings were confiscated.
Blackford filed a petition against the casino to recover damages.
A Polk County district court concluded that Prairie Meadows had the authority to confiscate winnings from patrons who are banned.
Blackford appealed. The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed the lower court's ruling and ordered a new trial, saying it found no statutory provision allowing the casino to confiscate Blackford's winnings.
The casino appealed. The Iowa Supreme Court agreed with the lower court.
The ruling makes clear that banned customers should stay away, said attorney Dennis Ogden, who represented the casino.
"It essentially sends a message to people who've been banned from casinos that they aren't going to be able to come in and win any money," he said.
Blackford's attorney, Ryan Beattie, said they were disappointed in the court's ruling.
Thanks to TigerAngel for the tip.
I can understand the ruling but it doesn't say if the casino gave him back his money that he had when he walked in? I don't see where they would have the right to take money from someone that is banned - based on the fact that he can't "come in and win any money." It would only be correct they can't take any money as well.
OTOH, if he would have won anything less than the amount for a W-2, he could have walked out richer and nobody would have known the difference.
Do the same rules apply in Vegas? Or elsewhere?
Absolute bull<snip>. I would burn the place to the ground just out of spite. Another example of "Casino Law". Similar thing happened to me in Las Vegas about 6 years ago. I was playing blackjack at Ceaser's Palace, and because I hit a very lucky streak they accused me of counting cards. They gave me back what I bought in for - $1200 - but they kept all the money that I won from playing -$11,000. I was also told by the head of thier security that if they saw me at a blackjack table in there I would be arrested. I have spent a LOT of money at Ceaser's over the years. I have also won a lot too, but this just goes to show that casinos do not like people who win big.
I don't go to Casinos and had no idea they had this law?..I guess they can make up any rule they want by the looks of it..I have a cousin who lives in Tucson and we was out there about 20 years ago and it was HOT!!!..
He was found at the casino [again] in March 1998 and was escorted out. He pleaded guilty to trespassing and paid another fine."
Geez, I wouldn't want this rager/damage maker and trespasser on my property either. How many more times do they need to tell this obnoxious person to leave? Why is it that some people 'feel/think' that they have the right to trespass where they have been told (often via official document) that they aren't wanted and welcome? This man also, possibly, has a drug and gambling problem. As for returning the money that he spent, how would the cassino be able to easily determine that -- the man would probably lie if asked, since he is willing to break trespass laws on a 3-time basis thus far! Plus, what was that appeals court judge thinking with?
I wonder if states could do the same thing if someone came up with a winning strategy based on their observations of numbers that had come up in previous drawings? After all what casinos call counting cards is simply watching and noting what's happening in order to develop a strategy for winning. I guess states could avoid that problem by not allowing players to pick their own numbers and just selling QPs.
I don't feel too sorry for him. He knew he was banned from that casino, yet he kept trespassing and going back. If he wants to win and keep his money, he needs to go to a casino that he isn't banned from.
Not in an overt way; more likely they'd publicize how "lucky" you were until the extra unwelcome attention you'd get from the public would cause you to go elsewhere.
The casino definition of cheating: "cheaters are those who win too much"
You're not just unlikely to beat the casinos - you're not allowed to.
casinos SUCK. Thats all i got to say.
Gee.... do you think banned means come back in when you want?
I have to agree The guy knew he was banned yet he went back. It would be the same thing if a 17 year old bought a scratch off ticket and won. They have no right to the money.
truecritic,
"I can understand the ruling but it doesn't say if the casino gave him back his money that he had when he walked in? "
Darn good point. There was a cast at Caesar's in Vegas where someone won a large jackpot on a progressive slot. I forgrt the amoung but it was six figures. Casino surveillance had it all on film (cameras are always on such machines, a "dedicated" camera if you will).
Everything was on the up and up, but, when the guy who pulled the handle went to the cage for the paperwork it turned out he was only 19. He didn't look 19, had a full beard, etc., was about 6' 5".
A whole family was at the machine taking turns on it and it just so happened that the jackpot hit when the 19 year old was playing it.
Caesar's wanted to pay him but the Nevada Gaming Commission said no can do.
Let's back up a little. Survellance had it all on tape. How many pulls of the handle (this was 1980s), etc...
Not once did anyone say anything about giving them back what they had put in the machine.
I don't trust casino's.I hear too many bad stories about casino's. If your on a one armed slot and you win big time, the management says the payline must be exactly on and you think your on it , management looks at it and says "YOU LOSE".You get angry and management just smiles. Anyone for a Quick Pick ?.
OUCH!
Of course, what they put into the slot would've been a pittance but they shouldn't lose their own money.
If someone looked underage at your table, did you let them play anyway? Or were you supposed to card them before handing them the dice (cards, whatever)?
Giving it some more thought...
What if someone underage has cigarettes - they lose their cigarettes, get fined and don't get their money back for the illegal cigarettes.
What if someone underage buys a $20 scratch off ticket and loses - they can't claim they were underage and demand a refund. Hopefully if they win, they give it to someone old enough to cash it. What's the penalty for holding a lottery ticket when you are underage?
If you buy a stolen car (not knowing it was stolen) and police confiscate it, you don't get your money back. Unless you sue the one that was selling the stolen car (good luck getting anything while they are in prison).
If you accidentally get a counterfeit $100 bill and turn it in, you don't get your money back.
I'm sure there are more examples.
Darn!
That whole "concerned about the integrity of the games" thing doesn't come to the fore while the players are losing, just when they win a bunch.
On table games casinos are paranoid about players being underage. There's exceptions, maybe truck stops somewhere with a BJ table.
There's a place on I-15 (or was, not sure it's still there) where the guy who fueled up the trucks and was a cashier would deal blackjack if someone wanted to play.
But a big casino isn't going to risk it's license so someone underage can make a bet.
One night we carded a Hawaiin lady, who looked verey young. Surprise! She was 40!
Am I understanding right?..They kept 11,000 that you won?..It's not against the law to count cards but if the casinos catch you doing it they can make you leave but not take the money you've won?..
It's like I said earlier - you're quite welcome to lose a lot but you're not allowed to win a lot. If you win a lot you must be cheating and you will be thrown out and barred.
And the definition of cheating in casinos is winning.
Nice racket, eh? Next best thing to being the IRS.
Casinos can and will do anything they want. Law doesn't even come into thier reality. That wasn't the first time that has happened to me in Las Vegas. Most casinos will let you win a little. Enough to keep you comming back. Try winning at the table games for large sums for a prolonged period of time. If that happens then in thier eyes you MUST be cheating. I have friends that are slot techs and dealers in various games. They have told me some stories and I have been witnessed to some and even lived some myself. And yes, they kept $11,000 that I won playing blackjack. If this happens to anyone, believe me, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. I have seen with my own eyes and have been a victim of it. Sad.
If you win big and or often at cards they say that you count them, so you are not allowed to use winning techniques at casinos, system players should then stay away from casinos and or just win a little at a time and quit playing before they win too much.
If a person won at the roulette too much and or too often, what will they accuse that person of? Maybe they will just not pay and ban that person.
Not to worry about that, after all they quit selling tickets long before the draw and they are the ones who hold the draws.
Since most people are "Luck Players", most people don't have to worry about winning too much, unless some-time somehow they become very lucky.
Yea, that is why you hear the phrase 'grind out' a winning system, a little at a time. I used to play craps at the near by Indian casino, often the big winners would only come to the table for no more than 15-20 minutes, win big and leave.
This is the best yet.This really happened in 2000 in Mass.A man bought 10 consecutive scratch tickets in local store while walking to his truck he dropped one not realizing itAlong comes family and 8yr old girl picks ticket up and scratches it in car.turns out its a winner of $100,000.00.Family gets so excited tells people and local press show up and do big story about it and parents claim the ticket as theirs.Now its huge news all over TV with interviews and everything. man that bought the ticket was scratching his at home and realizes he now only has 9 tickets and when news shows the store and girl finding ticket he realizes that is his ticket was in the middle of his lot of 10 tickets. Goes to lottery to report it,even store employee says man bought all 10 tickets and lottery told him nothing can be done,holder of ticket or persons signing ticket are the winners, Sorry. He gets lawyer and takes it to court and judge decides to make them split it and family takes that decision back to court to have ruling overturned and YUP it was and guy got NOTHING.So hows that for fare..GREED is everywhere.