Using multiple player's cards?

Someone was telling me that he has a "system" when he goes into a casino. He'll get a player's card and then come back later and get another one, saying he lost the first one, and maybe come back once more later on to get another card.

So now he'll have 3 cards all with the same account number and all in his name. Then he'll walk around the slot floor and stick a card in this machine and one over there and play on another card somewhere else.

His theory is that a lot of people won't use their own player's card so they won't notice that his card is in the reader and he'll get credit for their play, and the casino will send him more comps than he would normally get.

If someone were to use their own card they would probably remove his from the reader and leave it sitting on top of the machine so he can just stop by and check once in a while and stick it back in the reader.

On the surface it sounds feasible, but is this what's really happening? If all 3 of the cards were active at the exact same time would whatever computer it is that keeps the stats for these cards dis-count two of them? Or is there no way for the casino's system to realize that the same player is playing 3 different slot machines on opposite ends of the casino?

Quote: tsmith

Someone was telling me that he has a "system" when he goes into a casino. He'll get a player's card and then come back later and get another one, saying he lost the first one, and maybe come back once more later on to get another card.

I'd be suspicious of anyone who asked for three cards on the same day.

As for the rest, 'd be extremely surprised if most casinos didn't have a system in place to prevent such player card abuse. After all it's a very simple thing to do and surely lots of people have tried it by now. Some casinos even issue you two cards when you sign up.

This last trip I lost my Harrah's card, which I needed to get into the buffets. I had zero problems obtaining a new one, all I had to do was show my ID. I was given two replacements, BTW, without asking.

Quote: tsmith

His theory is that a lot of people won't use their own player's card ...

People are stupid, but they are not that stupid.

The only time people play a machine without inserting their card is if, for whatever reason, they decide to play just for a spin or two. If they then decide to stay at the machine, they'll put their own card in.

I see machines with cards in all the time. I remove the cards and drop them off at the player's club counter.

I don't know if casinos keep track of the number of cards a person gets, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that an abuser loses some of their comp credits. The cards don't cost much, but they do cost something.

You would be surprised, DJ. A lot of people are lazy/don't care/don't realize what they're missing out on. This scheme probably wouldn't work in a locals casino, where most people know the deal, but on the Strip ... maybe. I'm amazed at people who come to town and play all weekend without ever getting a player's card.

Then there are those superstitious/suspicious players, like my late brother-in-law, who are convinced that the card reader is hooked to the internal workings of the slot machine and prevents jackpots from happening because it knows how much money you're spending.

Quote: nyuhoosier

You would be surprised, DJ. A lot of people are lazy/don't care/don't realize what they're missing out on. This scheme probably wouldn't work in a locals casino, where most people know the deal, but on the Strip ... maybe. I'm amazed at people who come to town and play all weekend without ever getting a player's card.

First, asking for 3 cards is nothing. When I first got to Diamond at Harrah's, they GAVE me 3 cards (without asking). They'll usually give you 2, but if you say "I want to just keep one in my car for parking" trust me they won't care. Plus they mail me 2 more every year. So that's not a big deal at all. Second, you'd be better just asking someone playing without a card if you can put yours in. Many people won't care. Also, I'd say half the people I see playing are not using a card. Especially younger players. They're just having fun for the weekend, they don't care about comps or anything. Trust me, most people playing are not like people on this forum. I also don't think they'd stop action on multiple machines at the same time, because some people PLAY multiple machines at the same time, and they want all of their action to count. It's probably another reason they give out multiple cards. Another thing that can't hurt...if someone comes to your table game and doesn't want to give a card, ask if they can put their action on yours. I wouldn't have ever thought of that, but once I was playing at Borgata, betting 25-100 on BJ and a guy comes up, and is playing all black (100-300 hand) and they ask for his card, he said no thanks. The pit asks me, would you like his action? At first I didn't even understand what he meant. We played for a couple of hours, and the guy said "I'm hungry, can I get a comp at the steakhouse?" Pit pointed to me "Ask him, he's got all of your points!" Ended up we went to the steakhouse together...he was a nice guy. And I had about $100 extra in comp.

Quote: tsmith

Then there are those superstitious/suspicious players, like my late brother-in-law, who are convinced that the card reader is hooked to the internal workings of the slot machine and prevents jackpots from happening because it knows how much money you're spending.

A percentage of people who don't use a card believe this, though I can't see the logic. It knows that you are playing that game, and how much you put in when you buy in, but what does that mean? If you keep feeding it $100s before you start you have a better chance at a jackpot than if you just put a couple 20s? If that were the case, you could load in 2 grand, spin a couple times, cash out and put $1990 in the next machine, and eventually one of the machines is going to "like" all the money you are putting in and give you a jackpot? Or do you have to lose a long time before you win a jackpot? If that were the case, NOT using a card would probably mean you'll never get a jackpot! But of course it's just superstition.

Quote: tsmith

On the surface it sounds feasible, but is this what's really happening? If all 3 of the cards were active at the exact same time would whatever computer it is that keeps the stats for these cards dis-count two of them? Or is there no way for the casino's system to realize that the same player is playing 3 different slot machines on opposite ends of the casino?

I know quite a few people doing this and it seems they are getting extra points and happy.
Most casinos don't care.

Quote: tsmith

On the surface it sounds feasible, but is this what's really happening? If all 3 of the cards were active at the exact same time would whatever computer it is that keeps the stats for these cards dis-count two of them? Or is there no way for the casino's system to realize that the same player is playing 3 different slot machines on opposite ends of the casino?

Frankly your friend sounds like the people who used to check all the machines for leftover quarters. They used to call them bottom feeders. I doubt that his system will earn him much more than an extra lunch now and again.

My understanding is that the systems are not that sophisticated and are not networked together like that. So your friend probably has a viable system, except for the assumption that most people don't notice. I would think probably 9 out 10 people do notice if there is a strange card in the machine. Personally, if I don't have a player's card, I leave it in anyway. Someone might as well get credit if I'm not bothering. It doesn't hurt me (I'm not superstitious).

IMHO the card reader's will get more sophisticated in the future. The reason I that companies that own multiple casinos (like Harrah's) should start giving awards for playing in all 8 of their casinos in one day. It keeps people moving around, but always staying in a corporate hotel for their play. Perhaps they will wander into the Bellagio, Venetian or the Wynn to take pictures but they will spend their money at Harrah's.

Your friend can test his theory fairly easily. Just keep track of the points that he earns that day, and the next day after they have presumably updated the accounts, see if he got any extra points.

Quote: cclub79

I also don't think they'd stop action on multiple machines at the same time, because some people PLAY multiple machines at the same time, and they want all of their action to count. It's probably another reason they give out multiple cards.

exactly.
The players who play multiple machines at the same time are simply throwing their money away.
casinos definitely love those people and encourage them doing so.