It’s increasingly common for players in a casino to pool their money together and play as a group, not unlike what Brian Christopher does with group pulls. This can oftentimes lead to questions:
Let’s say you are playing with a group of 5 people..my players card is in the machine but we take turns spinning and one of the people in the group spins a handpay. Are there any problems with that?
Paul M.
Generally speaking, as long as the person whose card is being used is present and among those playing, it doesn’t tend to be an issue. Casinos are often more concerned about people using other players’ free play when it’s not their card and the card holder is not present in the casino, for various reasons.
What you should keep in mind is that house rules and local regulations will govern what happens if a jackpot handpay occurs. In many casinos, the rule is whoever pushes the spin button is awarded the jackpot payout (and is liable for the jackpot being reported to the IRS).
There have been examples out there where someone pushes the button and they walk away with the cash, even when it wasn’t their money in the machine. That’s one of the things you have to be careful about.
This is why nowadays Brian is the one who pushes the button in group pulls – he takes the reported jackpots as his own, and ensures the money is properly divided among participants at the end. Everyone in a group pull also signed a document affirming to the rules that will be followed.
That’s awfully formal for a gathering in a casino, of course, but it is one of those things that can matter if a substantial win occurs, and so regardless of whose players card is in the machine, it helps to know what the rules are at the casino you’re at, and attempt to come to an agreement as a group of what will happen if the best case scenario occurs.
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