Does Casino Cash Checks – Top 3 Things You Need to Know
10 minutes
Last Updated: October 31, 2022
Checks are generally considered obsolete financial documents in today’s modern digital world that’s striving to go entirely paperless.
Even when you gamble in a land-based casino, you can use credit cards in many venues so that you don’t need to fiddle around with checks or cash.
That said, checks are still used occasionally, even in casinos. Perhaps you have a check that someone issued in your name, and you want to use that money to gamble.
Or, you might be an old-school gambler that wants to cash a check at a casino as a part of your experience.
What do you need to ensure this process goes smoothly and without issues?
To start with, can casinos cash checks? If so, which checks do they cash, and what documents and information do you need to provide for them to cash your check?
We’ve prepared extensive answers and tips covering everything you should know about cashing checks at casinos.
1. Casino Policies on Most Common Types of Checks
The question of whether you can cash a check at a casino is too broad, as there are numerous types of checks. In other words, you’ll have no trouble cashing certain checks and will likely get rejected if you try to cash some other types of checks.
So, the first major thing you should know is the casino’s policy regarding cashing checks.
To save yourself the hassle, you should make sure that the casino would even cash your check. With that in mind, let’s go over general casino policies regarding different types of checks.
Do Casinos Cash Personal Checks?
Personal checks are the most common type of checks still in use today. In simple terms, these pieces of paper are promissory bills with which you guarantee the casino that you will pay them the amount they are giving you in cash.
The general rule of thumb is that most casinos accept personal checks. However, as the casino takes a risk by accepting your personal check and also needs to perform a credit check, it will also likely charge you a fixed amount fee or a percentage fee when you cash a personal check.
As there’s always a risk of a personal check bouncing, you need to be careful of how much cash you want to get.
Moreover, you should never try to write a bad check to trick the casino and get more money. In the US, this is classified as a misdemeanor and even a felony, depending on the circumstances.
Will a Casino Cash a Traveler’s Check?
Traveler’s checks are the perfect example of a time gone by. The way these checks work is that you go to a bank and get a number of checks you can use abroad.
So, if you don’t have cash or can’t use a card abroad, you can simply cash a traveler’s check. But, in today’s global financial system and with ATMs on every corner, traveler’s checks are more of an obsolete novelty.
Surprisingly, while many banks don’t even issue these types of checks anymore, they are still widely accepted, especially in Las Vegas casinos. Moreover, there are many arguments why a traveler’s check is a better option for gamblers.
Generally, the casino doesn’t have to conduct a detailed background check as they do when accepting your personal check. Traveler’s checks are secure and can’t be used by any third party if lost or stolen.
In line with this, as they’re not placing the risk on themselves, casinos will often have larger limits and lower fees for cashing traveler’s checks.
Do Casinos Cash Payroll Checks?
Nowadays, you’ll have a really hard time trying to find a casino that will accept a payroll check, as most casinos stopped accepting this payment method years ago.
The main reason is that most employees today are paid through electronic transfers. Since everything is done digitally, payroll checks have almost gone extinct.
This rarity also makes payroll checks difficult and impractical to validate. So, casinos have simply decided not to accept them anymore. If you have a payroll check, it’s best to find a business that cashes payroll checks before visiting the casino.
Will a Casino Cash a Check Made Out to Two Parties?
This is where it gets a bit more complex. As the name implies, two-party checks are issued to two beneficiaries.
In this situation, the specific wording of the two-party check can make a difference between the casino accepting and rejecting your attempt to cash the check.
More precisely, two-party checks can be paid to two parties in two forms. This might sound like a confusing tongue twister, so let’s simplify it a bit. Here’s how a two-party check can look:
- Recipient A “or” Recipient B – If the two-party check is issued like this, then either of the listed recipients can cash the check without the other person’s presence. The casino doesn’t care about the details; all that matters is that it can legally cash the check with only one recipient present.
- Recipient A “and” Recipient B – This seemingly small and irrelevant linguistic difference can cause you a ton of headaches. If the check says “and” instead of “or”, the casino will likely require the other person whose name is on the check to be present. It can be a huge hassle, so casinos generally avoid cashing such checks altogether.
2. Useful Tips for Cashing Checks at a Casino
In addition to knowing which checks you can and can’t cash at casinos, it’s helpful to know a few more pointers to ensure this process goes smoothly.
Having that in mind, here are several tips and tricks to remember when you want to cash a check at a casino:
Bring Your ID
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t try to cash a check in a casino without having your ID on you.
A state-issued ID is a requirement, as the casino will have to run a quick check before continuing with the process. In the US, most casinos will accept a driver’s license.
Apart from bringing your ID, you should also have your social security number prepared to give upon request.
Memorize it or write it down (less preferred for safety reasons), in case the casino has to run a credit check on you.
Keep your social security number away from anyone else’s eyes, as it can be used for illegal purposes associated with identity theft.
Whether or not the casino will ask for your social security number also depends on the type of check you’re trying to cash. For example, this is most commonly a practice casinos have for users who try cashing personal checks.
Have a Blank Check
This is something most players forget to do when trying to cash a check at a casino. There are several reasons why you should bring a black check.
Firstly, the casino might have a limit on how much you can cash. Many casinos set this limit between a thousand and ten thousand dollars, although it may vary depending on the venue you’re playing at.
And the second reason why you shouldn’t fill out your check before you go to the casino is that they will have to contact your bank before setting how much you can cash your check for.
After checking your information, the casino will set the maximum amount you can write the check for based on how much money you have in your bank account.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should write a check for everything you have in your account. Set a bankroll and write the check only for the amount you’re prepared to lose for the evening.
Also, make sure to keep your check safe. If someone steals a blank check from you or you accidentally lose it, anyone can fill out the details and drain your bank account before you can do anything.
Have a Small Amount of Cash at Hand
Lastly, it’s also a good idea to have a small amount of cash at hand to pay for your credit check. This is usually around $10 or less, depending on the casino, so you don’t have to carry a lot of cash.
Additionally, keep in mind that you might also get charged a small percentage fee if a second-party checking service is involved.
This is less than ideal, as you’ll get a smaller amount of money than you cashed the check for. If you’re gambling on a thigh bankroll, it’s something to have in mind.
Be Prepared to Wait a Bit
When you walk in with a check, you won’t be able to play instantly like you would with cash. Knowing this, you should arm yourself with patience and be prepared to wait for a bit until your check clears.
The main reason why this process can drag out is that you’ll have to spend some time filling in the details on the form the casino gives you. When that part is done, you’ll also have to wait a few minutes for the casino to check your credit.
3. Which Casinos Cash Checks?
Now that you know which checks you can cash and useful advice for cashing them, where can you apply this knowledge and exchange your checks or cash?
To save you time and help you start playing right away, we’ve done extensive research on the top casinos in the United States that will accept to cash your checks. Here are the best US casinos that currently cash checks:
Caesars
Caesars is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in gambling, with Caesars Entertainment owning dozens of big casino brands in Vegas and Atlantic City and offering a full range of games, from slots to roulette, blackjack, poker, and much more.
In the context of this page, you can cash your checks in a number of casinos in both of these gambling cities. This includes casinos like Caesars Palace, Bally’s, Harrah’s, and many other venues.
Tropicana
The iconic Tropicana casino in Atlantic City allows you to cash both traveler’s checks and personal ones.
You need a valid photo ID for traveler’s checks. If you want to cash a personal check, you’ll also need a blank one and your social security number.
MGM Casinos
Like Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International runs a number of world-class casinos in Vegas. Most notably, this includes MGM Grand, Aria, Bellagio, Mirage, and Circus Circus.
All of these casinos will gladly cash your personal or traveler’s check. The former comes with a predetermined 1.5% fee, while you can cash the latter without any fees.
Do Casinos Cash Checks – A Quick Sum Up
After you pass the background check and fill out the blank fields on your check, the only thing left is to exchange it for money.
The casino will give you the amount you sign for, minus any fees that you haven’t paid in cash previously. You will receive cash, which you can then exchange for chips to play your desired casino games.
So, with everything we’ve discussed in this article, you’re fully prepared to turn your check into cash and, hopefully, turn that cash into even more cash. Keep in mind what type of check you’re trying to cash, don’t forget the tips we’ve shared with you, and best of luck playing your favorite casino games!
