We get a lot of inquiries on this topic, especially since Brian Christopher avails himself of this in casinos that offer it and showcases this in his videos and lives. So we figured we’d take this opportunity to go into it in more detail about what the role of Self Pay, sometimes called Fast Pay, serves in the process of a jackpot handpay.
Because the reporting requirement to the IRS is an arbitrary number – $1,200 won on a single wager – it can create a lot of hassles for both players and casinos because each time that $1,200 win threshold is reached, it would require a slot attendant to process paperwork and hand count the money into the player’s hand.
Enter Self Pay, or Fast Pay. Because the law only requires a daily submission of reported wins under that rule, some casinos are now offering a service that you can enroll for at the cashier at the beginning of your play day, and get your final paper at the end of your play day, with all your reported wins rolled into one document.
Players can type in their PIN when winning over $1,200 to confirm they want it added to their document, and the credits remain in the machine for use immediately.
There are limitations – because of additional regulations around transactions above $10,000, players may still encounter handpays at that higher level that are paid out separately and by hand. Also, because machines have upper limits in how much they’re allowed to cash out on a ticket, if you build your balance above a certain number that, too, may require slot attendant intervention.
You must sign in every day you wish to take advantage of self pay, and also at the end of your gambling day a player still returns to the cashier to sign off on all of your wins and pick up the paper. Alternatively, you can sign off on them on your next visit prior to being able to sign up for another day.
But compared to the previous process of having to wait for a slot attendant, confirm information, get a document, get paid out and move on, the self pay/fast pay format is certainly one that streamlines things for players that bet high enough to encounter handpay jackpots regularly.
Have a question? Submit yours here!
