Yes, I too have thought about the morality of how to go when "harvesting" cards. If they are on top of the machine, I feel they are abandoned and if security does not see me take them, then there does not seem to a victim, and thus there is no crime. With a little practice, you can perfect the action of leaning against the machine with one hand resting on the card, while you examine the screen or the pay table for a few moments. When it seems you are done, you turn away from the machine with the card still in your hand. After a few steps, the card shifts to your pocket. If there is one or more cards on a bungee cord, it is a little more of a handful. If the card is still in the slot, that is more of a problem. It is more noticeable pulling the card out, and the player or one of their friends may be watching the machine while they get a bucket or change. If any player does notice my harvesting, a muttered "gee, I must have left my card around here someplace..." can distract them. But recently I did pull a card and after I moved to the next machine and was getting ready to move on, a lady walked up to the machine and started looking for her card. I put my hand on the top (with her card still in it) and pulled it down, saying "Oh, someone left it up here!" That was one card I didn't really need. Since I could return it without having to explain to her why I had it, I was happy to do so.

I have mentioned this on the board before, but 2 or 3 years back I was cutting through the California to go over to Main Street Station, and I saw and grabbed a few cards as I went through. Short of the front door I was stopped by two security guards who asked my name, for my ID, and where I was staying. When I asked why they said I had been seen taking "their property." I pulled 5-6 Cal cards out of my pocket and said, "They were just laying there." They asked me to leave the casino. Since then (and especially for a few days after that event) I was very careful to masquerade my "harvesting."