Has as anyone ever won (acquired) a $200 with out trading for it or buying it? Yes, Bally’s, Caesars Tahoe, Eldorado, and Fitzgerald’s all had five dollar strike machines and when you lined up three sevens you were paid a $200 strike by the attendant. (No trading involved). A WIN is a WIN, if we want to say that the attendant pay or hand pay does not qualify for a WIN then I think we have to ask what precedent has been set concerning what constitutes a win. All one needs to do is look at the Mega Jackpot or any other large jackpot and they are all hand paid. The Gaming Commission, News Media, Casinos and the IRS all refer to these large hand pay jackpots as winnings. I think that is a pretty good precedent, they were all won not traded for or bought. I think the precedent has been set and a hand pay is a win and therefore qualifies as one that has been won.
Another scenario, which should be included in this conversation, is the RED, WHITE, and BLUE SEVENs on the third pay line. Some casinos have awarded a $200 along with the jackpot; sometimes it has been part of the total and other times it has been in addition to the total. O’Shea’s Casino included a $200 in addition to the jackpot payoff for a RED, WHITE, and BLUE SEVENs on the third pay line. Yes, an IRS form had to be filled out and the form included all the cash and the $200 for the strike, it was all gambling winnings. This particular O’Shea’s $200 two hundreds was won from a Silver Strike machine and not traded for or bought. If my memory is correct I think the Plaza has also included a $200 as part of the payout.

A strike Catalog or two are nice tools to have. They may give you guide lines but they do not replace common sense and hopefully they do not rule your collection.

My bottom line: For my collection I really don’t care if it is considered a “REAL” silver strike or not. If I like it I try to win it or buy it. If I do not like it I do not pursue it but, everyone else is free to have as many as their little oh heart desires.

Now go do the right thing.