Published on: October 28, 2025, at 12:41h.
Updated on: October 28, 2025, at 12:41h.
- Authorities in Douglas County are on the lookout for an individual who reportedly cashed a gaming ticket that did not belong to him.
- The incident took place at Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe.
Discovering a gaming voucher on a casino floor might seem like a stroke of good luck, but it is actually against the law to pick up such tickets.
Unredeemed cash-out vouchers are temporarily considered the property of the player who generated them.
According to Nevada law, casinos must retain unclaimed vouchers for 90 days, allowing the rightful owner to redeem their gaming credits. After this period, the voucher is deemed unclaimed property, with the state receiving 75% and the casino retaining 25%. Annually, over $20 million goes unclaimed in Nevada.
Recently, Douglas County police reported that a man sat at a slot machine that displayed more than $300 in credits. A woman, who later alerted authorities about her oversight, had left the machine without cashing out her winnings.
Casino Surveillance Tracks Down Suspect
Following the woman’s report to security at Caesars Republic in Stateline, NV, an investigation was initiated.
Surveillance cameras at the casino recorded an unidentified man sitting at the particular slot machine and quickly cashing out the credits. The footage also captured him using a self-redemption kiosk to cash out the Fast Cash ticket.
A woman, likely of similar age, was seen following the man, leading police to believe they were connected.
“If you recognize either the unidentified male suspect or the female subject, please reach out to Douglas County Sheriff’s Investigator Ryan Grant at 775-781-1227,” stated the sheriff’s office.
The former Harveys Lake Tahoe casino resort underwent a $160 million renovation this year, rebranding as Caesars Republic, making it the second such location following the opening of Caesars Republic Scottsdale in 2024.
Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe boasts an expansive 88,000-square-foot casino with 750 slots, 31 table games, and a Caesars Sportsbook. The hotel, standing 19 stories tall, includes 743 rooms, along with five restaurants, an outdoor amphitheater, a comedy club and cabaret, and a nightclub.
Nevada Voucher Regulations
Collecting an abandoned casino gaming voucher is classified as a criminal offense under Nevada’s Revised Statutes.
Specifically, NRS 465.070 defines it as fraudulent to “claim, collect, or attempt to collect any value from a gambling game without having placed a corresponding wager or to claim an amount exceeding what was won.”
Those found guilty of NRS 465.070 may face misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the voucher’s value and the circumstances, including any use of force.
Rather than discarding gaming vouchers worth minimal amounts, numerous casinos encourage players to contribute these tickets into donation bins across the gaming floor. The Caesars Makes Change initiative supports the Caesars Foundation by collecting these donations from players.