Missouri Police Say 87-Year-Old Man Robbed Ameristar Casino Blind
Posted on: June 22, 2026, 11:50h.
Last updated on: June 22, 2026, 11:50h.
- Missouri police allege 87-year-old James N. Gallagher III stole $5,050 in slot machine credits from another gambler
- Casino surveillance reportedly captured Gallagher cashing out the credits and redeeming the ticket
- Gallagher faces a Class D felony for stealing more than $750, which carries a potential penalty of up to seven years in prison
Police in Missouri allege that an 87-year-old man stole over $5,000 from a slot machine another gambler was playing at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the riverboat property owned and operated by Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming on May 1 after a customer reported being the victim of a robbery. The victim said he had placed $5,000 into a slot machine, but after he took a bathroom break and put his chair up to signify the machine was occupied, he returned to find his credits cashed out and the machine open.
Casino Surveillance Captures Theft
Missouri law enforcement said investigators reviewed the Ameristar Casino’s surveillance video and noticed an elderly man approach the slot machine while the victim was in the restroom.
The man cashed out $5,050 in slot credits and made his way to a redemption kiosk where he collected on the ticket-in, ticket-out (TITO) voucher. A subsequent investigation led police to arrest James N. Gallagher III, a Florissant resident who is 87 years old. Gallagher has been charged with stealing $750 or more, a felony under Missouri law.
The Class D felony charge carries a possible imprisonment of up to seven years, plus a $10,000 fine. Judges, however, typically base their sentencing on the defendant’s prior criminal history, with probation and little or no jail time afforded to non-violent defendants who don’t have lengthy rap sheets.
According to Missouri court records, Gallagher was sued by the Ford Motor Credit Company in June 2021 for failing to pay his vehicle loan. The case was disposed of in December 2022 through a “consent judgment.” The case is the only other court record associated with Gallagher.
The Ameristar Casino is one of Missouri’s largest riverboats. The casino has more than 1,700 slot machines, nearly 100 live dealer table games, and a Fanatics Sportsbook. The accompanying hotel has 400 rooms, 60,000 square feet of convention space, a seasonal indoor-outdoor pool, and a full-service spa.
Found Casino Credits
It is illegal in all commercial gaming states to play a found gaming voucher. A misplaced gaming voucher should always be reported to a casino employee, as picking it up risks misdemeanor and felony charges, depending on the amount of the voucher and the state.
Casinos often trespass and permanently ban individuals who are found to pick up or steal a gaming voucher.
Floor attendants will scan a lost voucher to see if it’s associated with a rewards card to return the money to its rightful owner. If the voucher isn’t linked to a rewards member, the money is retained by the casino or donated to charity.
Caesars Makes Change, for instance, is the casino company’s program that allows players to donate their TITO vouchers to charity. In May 2025, Caesars Makes Change donated $200,000 to the International Center for Responsible Gaming.
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