There's no such thing as finder's keepers in a casino.
Police and casino officials said Thursday that slots players who use credits left on a machine by another player or pick up a lost voucher for their own use are breaking the law and could find themselves questioned by state troopers.
"It's no different than taking someone's wallet and taking money out of it," said Rivers Casino spokesman George Matta. "You should return it. It's not yours."
Matta and state police said they know of no arrests of people who used others' credits and that when the issue arises. It's usually worked out without incident. If it isn't, a misdemeanor theft charge could be levied, police said.
"Most times, the victims are happy to get their money back, and that's the end of it," said state police Cpl. Paul Mumau, who works out of the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington County. "We give the suspect the opportunity to pay the voucher back. We're not looking to take everyone in handcuffs down to the magistrate."
Troopers are stationed in every casino.
"Some people may find a voucher and think it's their lucky day, but there's actually a law in the books against that," Mumau said.
Slots players who find credits on a machine, vouchers on the floor or money should turn over the items to casino officials. Owners can then claim them.
If no one claims the items, the casino must keep a log of the money, and it eventually goes to the state, said Richard McGarvey, spokesman for the state Gaming Control Board. All casinos have cameras that make it easier to track people, he said.
"If you find lost property and play it, in essence, you're stealing it because (someone) has lost it," McGarvey said. "We monitor the casinos and can review their records to check (if they're turning over the unclaimed property to the state)."
Player's Club cards, which track the machines a player has used, make it easier to track lost vouchers, Matta said.
"This does not happen with high frequency. We had very few incidences in the last month," Matta said of Rivers Casino in the North Shore.
State police sent out three reports in the past week of similar incidents at the Meadows.
In one case, a 66-year-old man from Daisytown in Washington County took a $200.24 voucher left on a slot machine. A 72-year-old woman from Hickory, in Washington County, later told casino officials she lost the voucher. Police located the man and he returned the woman's money. No charges were filed, state police said.
Meadows spokeswoman Jamie John said surveillance can usually quickly locate lost vouchers. Signs are posted at the Meadows to inform patrons of the law, John said.
"It's usually a case of misunderstanding," John said. "Everyone is usually very agreeable."
