As I travel to different casinos, my family worries about my safety. I have read lots of stories online about people getting shot, robbed, or threatened, but I wonder if a lot of these victims were just being careless. Has anyone on the forum actually been threatened or encountered an unsafe situation like this? If you generally use valet and are willing to throw away money if threatened, is there really much risk of serious injury or death?
Not that I'm a huge traveller for casino purposes .Originally Posted by beta
Always keep your eyes and ears open. Really be aware of your surroundings. Common AP protocol is not park your car where you play, or to use valet services. I ignore both of these protocols, primarily because I have problems walking any appreciable distance.
When you use valet at a location away from home, I will be using a rental vehicle. Do not leave your rental contract in the car. It can obviously identify you. Further, when dropping off at valet, I use my first and middle name (which can easily be construed as a last name. If any issues arise from that, they are easily explainable. The useful issue about using valet, is that you are among lots of other people waiting for their vehicles - with security and staff in immediate proximity, and there is safety in numbers.
Regardless of where I stay, I opt for a premise which offers some basic security, cleanliness and comfort. I always avoid sleaze bag motels.
Now, as far as your local hangouts are concerned - be extra vigilant - people eventually will learn that you are carrying large sums of money. I know of a specific instance of an elderly Asian ploppy , known to carry very large sums of money, followed from the casino and robbed of approx 100k. Park as close as possible, or take a taxi. Common AP protocol is not to be escorted to your vehicle by Casino security. The local guys will find out who you are in any event - so escorted to your vehicle is I'd rather be safe than sorry scenario.
A very very good reason not to be rated in your local marketplace, is that your address can be accessed by by casino personnel - and those indivuduals will know your address, and can easily surmise that you carry large sums of cash in your home. Understand that you need to address security issues in that regard.
Your family is correct in being concerned about your safety.
http://www.bj21.com/bj_reference/pag...upwallet.shtml
If I've pasted correctly, the link above will give you some info on a give up wallet - useful to refer to this.
Last edited by Freightman; 01-04-2016 at 01:03 AM.
Freightman has provided good advice. If you use common sense, you probably have more to fear from casino security, other casino employees, police, various types of con artists, and prostitutes/"bait girls" than from random robbers.
For the record, I have had several women try to con me into places probably for robberies, and two unrelated attempted strong-arm robberies that I can recall; one outside Sands Regency in Reno and one outside a small downstairs casino on Broadway in Vancouver, BC, which I think is long gone now. I repelled both; the Reno one with pepper spray, the Vancouver one by shouting and cursing at the would-be robber and scaring him off. I was fortunate in both situations. I have had a few incidents when I thought casino people (I can specifically recall Ellis Island and Orleans in Las Vegas; Cal-Neva in Reno) and police (in Oklahoma and in Carson City) were going to rob me, but I either was wrong in my assessment or something I did caused them to change their minds.
Opinions and Commentary on the Gaming Industry: The Bear Growls
The advice above is good but I think you should trust your judgment and instinct. I have been going to casinos in the Midwest, travelled to casinos in Las Vegas and in Tunica. Just always be aware of your surroundings, be careful where you park, where you walk when entering buildings, factor in the time of day and the people around you, and more.
Recently, I was in the Chicago area and in the Hammond, IN casinos (some of the scariest folks in some of those) and as I drove into the area, it made me really conscious that I needed to be careful. When you have run down places and drunks/homeless and such, you do need to be careful. I had the same feelings in Reno area.
I took extra care in where I parked. I took extra care in leaving after cashing my casino chips, took a detour, checked if I was being followed, jumped out of the elevator when two guys got in as the elevator was going up the garage floors and back in the casino, waited a few minutes and then got on an empty elevator. When stepping out, I held the elevator door open, phone ready in my hand, looked around then decided to go to the car. A good idea is to pretend you are on the phone as you walk to the car.
These are the same precautions I would take on a night out anywhere, casinos or not.
The original poster brought up a serious issue worthy of discussion. I am surprised there are not more responses.
Opinions and Commentary on the Gaming Industry: The Bear Growls
If protecting your money is a concern, I use a flat fannie-pack-like money pouch to carry my funds. I wear it under my shirt (it's skin tone color) and its undetectable. I typically walk into a casino with anywhere from $5K to $8K, so getting mugged is something that worries me. Every time I walk in and out of casino, my money is strapped to my body, and I will only have a couple hundred dollars in my wallet. When I'm getting ready to enter/leave a casino, I'll make a stop to the bathroom to unload or load my funds back into my pouch, so no one sees where I carry my cash. This might help if you ever get mugged. In the event a mugging occurs, you probably won't be strip searched. You'll probably just be told to empty your pockets.
Other than that, all you can really do is be aware of your surroundings, park in a well-lit area, and don't fumble with your keys when entering your car. I'm always very aware of my surroundings and who is around me when it's time to make my way back to my car.
I've seen another counter pull a 6-8k roll out his pocket for the initial buy-in. It was clear that this person was a possible AP when he purchased $200 in chips and made a $10 bet. It was also easy target for a potential thief. I keep money in several clips of no more than 2k per clip in various pockets and try not to flash the cash anywhere in the casino.
A concealed carry permit is a good way of protecting oneself if you are so inclined. Many states have reciprocity, so you can carry in neighboring states.
Other good options include pepper spray and tasers (NOT stun guns) if they are legal in your area.
The Cash Cow.
I like this pouch idea where did you get it?
As far as carry permits are concerned I carry everywhere I go. All the casinos I have been to have the silly no gun signs so make sure no one catches site of it. I walked by a guy playing video poker one night as he was trying to adjust himself and could see his S.O.B. holster plain as day. I think it might be serious -EV getting caught with a gun in a place like that but I haven't run any sims yet.
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