Why would the NJCCC care about players making change for one another?

DrewOnTilt · #1 10-28-2007, 10:02 PM

On two recent occasions, different managers at the Borgata told me that the New Jersey Casino Control Commission has been giving grief to the poker room management because of players trading chips and cash with each other. On Friday, I saw a floorman stop a player from buying a rack of chips from another player and force the player to buy from the chip runner. There was a sign posted in the high limit area that stated something to the effect of "Chips must be purchased from the dealer or the cage."

One manager told me that NJCCC agents have been sitting in the surveillance room and specifically watching for poker players buying chips from each other.

This makes no sense to me. Why would the NJCCC care if I buy a rack of chips from someone at the table? Furthermore, do they have any authority to stop it? A ban on chip transactions between players would be very difficult to enforce.

MediaPA · #2 10-28-2007, 10:23 PM

Random thought. The only semi-reason I can think of would have to do with semi-out there stuff. Laundering money, counterfeit money, etc. but I really don't know if that is the NJCCC's domain to worry about, but it probably is somehow.

Edit: Opps, you said high limit. Reading comprehension is at an all time low (thought you meant buying from a guy in line at the window. I've heard people complain about people removing money in limit games (guess it could be similar to that).

NickMPK · #3 10-28-2007, 10:25 PM

The last time I was at Borgata (a couple days ago playing 10/20), I saw one player at the table buy chips from another on several occasions and nobody cared.

Obviously this would be a different situation in a NL game, where I don't think bills are permitted to play at least at low stakes.

DrewOnTilt · #4 10-28-2007, 10:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]

The last time I was at Borgata (a couple days ago playing 10/20), I saw one player at the table buy chips from another on several occasions and nobody cared.

Obviously this would be a different situation in a NL game, where I don't think bills are permitted to play at least at low stakes.

[/ QUOTE ]

This new "rule" (if it is indeed now a rule) was enforced sporadically at best.

I did consider that the reasoning might be along the lines of money laundering, but it seemed to be the case that the NJCCC was raising a stink specifically about transactions at the poker table. I didn't hear any mention of transactions between players that take place away from the poker table. I could be wrong, though, since I heard only one side of the issue.

Central Limit · #5 10-28-2007, 11:59 PM

I am quite worried about this. It could kill the high limit games.

sirpupnyc · #6 10-29-2007, 01:16 AM

At the Taj, at least, there are some signs (lovely engraved brass ones) saying something to the effect of "by law chips may be used for gaming and nothing else."

99% of the non-gaming exchange of chips is probably legit, though I guess technically illegal. They're presumably looking to stop the 1% who are passing counterfeit bills, money laundering, whatever.

youtalkfunny · #7 10-29-2007, 04:48 AM

Don't forget that stupid law where they have to keep a log of cash transactions, and report anyone who moves $10,000 in a day. Anyone seen trying to circumvent this law is committing "suspicious activity".

When I was booking sports, this law generated more paperwork than the bets I was taking.

mrkilla · #8 10-29-2007, 07:54 AM

probably falls under the same lame rule of having to buy full rows of chips .
My guess is actually because people/players are shorting others when buying stacks and people are complaining to the floor/NJCCC.

no ones laundering money a rack of reds at a time [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

3rdCheckRaise · #9 10-29-2007, 09:30 AM

I was told that rule had something to do with NGCC attempt to track 10k buyins and cash outs (mostly cash outs). If you over 10k at the end of the session (which Drew can only be by buying in for 20K [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]) not being able to sell chips at the table will force you to go to cage and get reported unless you have a box but many people do not have boxes.

Mr Rick · #10 10-29-2007, 09:42 AM

I recently read that starting next March, casino's will have to take taxes out of any gambling winnings when the total winnings exceeds $5,000.

The NJCCC may be trying to get the rampant private chip for money exchanges under control in advance so players won't be able to get around the new tax law come March.