Chips missing after tournament break

Jan · #1 07-24-2007, 10:04 PM

Played a live tournament a few weeks ago and came back after the 2nd break and chip-up to find I had less chips than before I left.

Before the break I had T33000 - I counted 3 times to make certain because the blinds were getting steep compared to my stack, even double-checked w/the dealer on what the next blind structure would be, 1000/2000/no antes, and called my son who had busted out an hour ago and was elsewhere in the casino to let him know I was short stacked and might be out soon.

That's how SURE I was of the # of chips I had.

Left the table for 5 minutes, came back and knew immediately I was shorted. Did a count and I only had T24500!!!!

I immediately called the tournament director over who said we'll figure it out at the end!!! What??? Then the guy next to me said he was shorted T5000, the tournament director started laughing and said now everyone was going to jump on the bandwagon.

The tournament director actually laughed again, and then told the dealer to go ahead and start dealing!!!

I complained some more, so he finally said he would count the chips,came back 10 minutes later and said he came back with the same amount they brought out for the chip up.

He told me he would have surveillance check the tape,and then 20 minutes later I AGAIN had to call him over and he said the tape didn't show anything. The fact that I had to call him over makes me wonder if anyone really checked the tape.

Anyway, how would this situation normally be handled? If I hadn't counted my chips 3 times, I probably would have assumed I miscounted, but I didn't miscount 3 times. I also didn't like that they just went ahead with the tournament and did not take me seriously,it seemed.

Also, someone suggested to me in the future to have the dealer sign a piece of paper saying how many chips you have before leaving the table for a break.

What does everyone think?

Jan

Cornell Fiji · #2 07-24-2007, 10:26 PM

What casino was this?

I don't know what you can do but I have a follow up question on this post for those 'in the know.' Is this the type of thing that the gaming commission rep could be called in for? I assume if chips were removed then it should be on the tape and since the floor said he checked the tape would that give the poster any recourse if it is clearly shown that another player palmed chips or if the dealer removed chips during the chip race?

If the gaming commission rep did review the tape and saw chips being removed what would their remedy be?

Also, does this sounds a lot like evidence of the the money stolen from the prizepool scam that RR discussed in this thread

Lastly, how do you suggest that tournament players protect themselves from this type of thing from happening?

RR · #3 07-24-2007, 11:31 PM

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Also, does this sounds a lot like evidence of the the money stolen from the prizepool scam that RR discussed in this thread

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Most likely not. What is sounds like is they accidently made a mistake coloring up the chips and they dont' have appropiate controls on the tournament chips (chips coming in from the color up needs to equal the chips that went out for the color up). I am always amazed that most poker rooms will not put procedures in place to protect the players.

FlyingCarpet · #4 07-24-2007, 11:40 PM

I always count 'em down and have a polite convo with dealer about my stack. Then I cover them with my seat card. This makes it harder to palm any (unless I have a monster stack)

Also, if I find any missing the dealer knows how much I had.

AngusThermopyle · #5 07-24-2007, 11:42 PM

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The tournament director actually laughed again, and then told the dealer to go ahead and start dealing!!!

What does everyone think?

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I think I would not play a tournament in that casino again. And I would tell every player I met why.

Please let us know what casino and the TD's name.

If the total chips was correct, then your chips ended up in someone else's stack.

Jan · #6 07-25-2007, 07:48 AM

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The tournament director actually laughed again, and then told the dealer to go ahead and start dealing!!!

What does everyone think?

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I think I would not play a tournament in that casino again. And I would tell every player I met why.

Please let us know what casino and the TD's name.

If the total chips was correct, then your chips ended up in someone else's stack.

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It was the Showboat in AC and I don't know the TD's name. It was the 1st time I ever played a tournament there, though I have played stud there many years ago. It wasn't an impressive poker room then and the staff didn't go out of their way to be accommodating, and that part at least hasn't changed.

I liked the tournament however; T10000 to start, 20 min rounds and no antes, and I definitely would have played there again just for the structure of tourny alone if not for this incident and the TD's attitude .

The TD told me the chips added up and the surveillance showed nothing, but I have to be honest with his attitude and the fact that he was not taking this seriously at all, I have my doubts, however I think the chips ended up in someone else's stack.

Since mentioning this on another forum, I've only heard from people who rave about this poker room. Honestly, I don't know why. When we first entered the room and approached the desk, not one person asked if we needed help. We had to practically flag someone down to get them to help us! It was ridiculous.

Bogeysave · #7 07-25-2007, 09:01 AM

When going to break i always stick my largest denomination chips at the bottom of my stack and only have the smallest denomination on top. Then i place my card protector on top. The chips being colored up are pushed in front of my regular stack.

This way the tournament director should only be messing with the color up chips and the replacement chips set loosely in front of my stack. Can't palm my big chips without knocking over my whole stack.

And dealer should always be present at table when you are on break....if not the tournament has issues.

I usually get a comment when i come back from break telling me to put my large denomination chips in front and depending on how i feel at the time i say "yes sir/maam" or explain to the dealer why i put them underneath.

Jan · #8 07-25-2007, 10:00 AM

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And dealer should always be present at table when you are on break....if not the tournament has issues.

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The dealer changed during break, so not sure if the table was watched the whole time.

piradical · #9 07-25-2007, 10:30 AM

showboat months ago, two at my table claim they were shorted at color up. TD says he will check the cameras. He returns and tops off their stacks. Just sloppy there I think.

TMTTR · #10 07-25-2007, 11:04 AM

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And dealer should always be present at table when you are on break....if not the tournament has issues.

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The dealer changed during break, so not sure if the table was watched the whole time.

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Any well-run tournament must have dealers remain at the tables during breaks. I have come back to a table during a bathroom break and found another player "counting" my chips while the dealer was looking the other way... if there wasn't a dealer watching, I wouldn't be surprised if someone snagged a couple of high denomination chips for their own stack.