Casino ATMs Skip Gambling, Steal Cash Directly

However, recently it appeared that the casinos decided to skip a few steps and just take the money directly from the customers' accounts.

Most gamblers know that the odds are against them winning, but at least they expect to get their entertainment value even if the casinos end up taking their money. However, recently it appeared that the casinos decided to skip a few steps and just take the money directly from the customers' accounts.

At least, that's the way it seemed to clients attempting to use casino ATMs over the weekend of September 13th and 14th. Global Cash Access, a Las Vegas corporation operating thousands  of ATMs in casinos such as Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, found that many of its units took cash requests but didn't dispense cash.

When the gamblers checked bank accounts, they found the withdrawals had been recorded as if money had been issued.

Global said the problem stemmed from a processor in the Houston area that malfunctioned due to the effects of Hurricane Ike. A company representative said tens of thousands of transactions failed over that weekend.

Global promised to identify all accounts affected, and reimburse the lost sums.

Global was already dealing with an August issue, concerning a day when casino customers found any checks submitted had been cashed twice. Refunds for the duplicate processing from that incident were just completed Wednesday.

At least money lost gambling at table games and slots brings excitement, and can't be blamed on anyone but the player. But skipping straight to the losing without the play... well, that sounds like a casino in hell.