Las Vegas Shooter's Gambling Draws New Attention to High-Stakes Video Poker

by Ingmar S. Innovative Marketer Authorities trying to piece together the final days before Stephen Paddock unleashed his arsenal of powerful firearms on country music fans on the Las Vegas Strip have at least one potential trove of information: his gambling habits.

Nevada gambling regulators say they’re sorting through documents for clues about him and his girlfriend, Marilou Danley. Those can include suspicious transaction or currency reports, as well as information from a player’s rewards card, which the casinos use to track their gambling and offer perks.

Paddock’s brother has described the gunman as a high-stakes video poker player who was routinely comped rooms, meals and drinks at casinos.

“He was a substantial gambler. It was a job to him,” Eric Paddock said.

A person who has seen Mandalay Bay hotel records that have been turned over to investigators said Wednesday they show Paddock was given his room on the 32nd floor for free because he was a good customer who wagered tens of thousands of dollars each time he visited. The individual was not authorized to speak publicly and disclosed the information to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The massacre has brought new attention to the world of high-limit video poker and casino comps where high-rollers are given all sorts of free items to keep them gambling. The biggest gamblers — often known as whales — can get such perks as chartered planes, butlers and free lodging at a $35,000-a-night villa.

Paddock’s brother said he was not at that level, but he gambled enough that he got free rooms, poolside cabanas and high-end sushi meals exceeding $1,000.

“He won cars and $250,000 checks and all this stuff from the hotel,” Eric Paddock said.

Video poker machines are a mainstay at casinos around Nevada, with most of the machines placed in bars where gamblers can play poker from their bar stools for 25 cents a hand. They look similar to slot machines.

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Created on Oct 7th 2017 15:47. Viewed 495 times.

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