How to Redeem a Coinless Slot Voucher

Gone are the days of the old-fashioned one-armed bandits. Coinless slot machines are now the name of the game at casinos everywhere, and collecting a jackpot is as simple as cashing out a voucher. But while the system is convenient, not all players find it satisfying. Some longtime gamblers say part of the thrill of playing the slots was the jingle of the coins as they spilled out into the bin. Plus, it's easy to stick that voucher in the back of your pocket and forget that it's there. If you do so, be sure to go back as soon as possible and cash in. Some vouchers have expiration dates, and some casinos won't let you redeem by mail.

No More Coins

Casinos started to change to coinless slots around the early 2000s, due in large part to the advent of multi-denomination machines. Coinless slots mean decreased labor costs, as casinos no longer have to hire slot managers to clean out machines, make a change, and escort players to counting rooms. Players no longer have to lug buckets of dirty coins across the casino floor and wait in line for a cashier to count them. Instead, they insert their voucher into a redemption kiosk and receive their winnings. Players also don’t have to worry about a machine running out of coins while they are cashing out or wait for attendants to fill the hoppers, which can take a long time to do when a casino is crowded.

The Voucher System at Work

Whether a casino calls their coinless slots EZ-Pay or Ticket In Ticket Out (TITO), they all work the same. Instead of feeding coins into the machine, you feed any denomination of bill into the bill receptor and the machine registers the appropriate amount of credits. You then begin play. If you win, you hit a button and receive a voucher printed with the amount of your winnings. You then redeem this at the cashier's cage or redemption machine.

Drawbacks

When coinless slots were first introduced onto the casino floor, players complained mainly about the difficulty of moving from machine to machine. If they wanted to switch machines they had to take their voucher over to the cashier and convert it back to money to put into the next slot. Fortunately, manufacturers quickly addressed this problem. Today's machines now accept vouchers from other machines as payment. If you are in a hurry when you cash out, you can even just put the voucher in your wallet or purse and use it when you play later.

This, however, can cause a problem if you forget to cash it in before you head for home, especially if you are visiting a casino in another state. Most vouchers have expiration dates—60 or 90 days are most common—which can be a problem if you're playing in a casino while on vacation. While some casinos will allow you to mail in the voucher and receive a check in return, others consider the voucher null and void unless you show up in person.

Because the policy for redeeming slot vouchers varies so much, not just from state to state but also casino to casino within the same state or even city, always check with casino management about their redemption policy.

Before You Go

Before you head to your favorite local casino or Vegas hot spot, make sure to check its policy. Even if you should find yourself with a voucher from a casino with a “no-mail policy,” all may not be lost. We advise that you call and ask for a casino host and explain the problem. These hosts want to do everything possible to retain their good players and they may be able to work out a solution for you.

To avoid forgetting the vouchers, make it a point to redeem them as soon as you finish playing. If you want to save them to play later, then make a habit of redeeming your vouchers at the end of the day, before heading to your room. When you get ready to check out of your hotel, make sure take a look in your wallet for any vouchers you may have forgotten.