...the casinos wanting to discourage people from trolling for abandoned credits on slot machines, but a first offense should only result in a warning. No citations/fines, and certainly no arrests for educating people on the law.

The Colorado Gaming Commission has allowed some very strange things to happen over the years, like allowing old chips from the Silver Hawk to be put back into play after the casino had been closed, then reopened under a new owner. Lee Bruton showed up at a commission meeting one time to try to explain our hobby to them. He brought part of his chip collection to show them during his presentation, and one of the commissioners wanted to confiscate the cash value chips because she said the casinos owned them (open or closed), not him!

I don't think what is happening/has happened is a result of the casinos wanting to harass patrons. I do think it is an over-reach by the gaming commission...a power play to justify their salaries.