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When you visit a casino, it is typically supposed to be a battle between gamblers and Lady Luck. But a quick bathroom break turned into a costly lesson for one Missouri casino customer after police say another gambler walked away with more than $5,000 from his slot machine.
Authorities in Missouri have charged 87-year-old James N. Gallagher III with a felony after he allegedly cashed out $5,050 in slot credits belonging to another player at Ameristar Casino in St. Charles.
It happened on May 1, when the victim was playing a slot machine at the popular riverboat casino operated by Boyd Gaming.
According to investigators, the player had loaded approximately $5,000 into the machine before stepping away to use the restroom.
Before leaving, the gambler reportedly positioned his chair in a way that showed the machine was still occupied, a common practice among casino patrons who plan to return shortly.
Unfortunately for him, someone else had other plans.
Casinos Have Eyes Everywhere
According to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, casino surveillance footage showed Gallagher approaching the unattended machine while the player was away.
Investigators allege that Gallagher cashed out the machine’s balance, generating a ticket worth $5,050 through the casino’s ticket-in, ticket-out system. He then reportedly walked to a redemption kiosk and exchanged the voucher for cash.
By the time the original player returned from the restroom, the credits were gone, and the machine was available for anyone to play.
The victim reported the incident to casino staff, which led to a review of surveillance footage that led them to Gallagher.
Felony Charge Filed
The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Gallagher with stealing $750 or more, a Class D felony under Missouri law.
Although the amount involved exceeds $5,000, Missouri’s felony theft statute categorizes the offense under stealing property valued at more than $750.
Gallagher is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on August 4.
If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to seven years in prison and fines reaching $10,000. However, sentencing outcomes often depend on factors such as criminal history, age, and the circumstances surrounding the offense.
Court records reportedly indicate Gallagher has a little-known criminal history. Public records show a civil lawsuit involving an unpaid vehicle loan filed by Ford Motor Credit Company in 2021, which was later resolved through a consent judgment in 2022.
One of Missouri’s Largest Casinos
The Ameristar Casino St. Charles is one of the largest gaming properties in Missouri.
The riverboat casino features more than 1,700 slot machines, about 100 table games, a retail sportsbook, a 400-room hotel, extensive convention space, a spa, and multiple dining options.
While disputes involving slot machine credits are relatively uncommon, casinos are equipped to investigate them. Modern gaming floors are covered by lots of surveillance systems that can track player activity, machine transactions, and voucher redemptions with remarkable precision.
In this case, investigators say those cameras may have captured every step of the alleged theft.
