"Yes, it might be a rule, yes it might even be a law."

It is a NV gaming reg/rule which makes it a LAW!
The NV law quoted above gives the state a right to claim the funds from the casino's.

"Should I bother flying home or will I be met at the airport by the Nevada State Police? (although I am not saying when I am coming home, I presume they already have this since the NSA has been tracking me making travel reservations and the airlines reported this to the TSA)."

Rather than police, I am guessing it will be NV Gaming Agents. Especially if they are NCV chips or roulettes.

Yes it should have been handled better.

People hunting credits on machines is a real problem in casino's. They have rounds they make every day. Casino's watch for them and bar them all the time. You just don't hear about it.