Does Using a Casino Player Card Affect Your Slot Machine?

By Casino Kelly

In my recent article, 4 Slot Machine Myths That Just Won’t Die, I talked about a myth I hear all the time: putting your player card into a slot machine can make the machine pay less.

And as soon as I wrote it, I knew this one needed an article of its own.

Some people believe the casino can see that they’ve already won and somehow make the machine stop paying.

Others think the casino knows how much free play, comps, or other offers they’ve received and can make the machine take some of that money back.

I understand why people wonder about it. Casinos collect a lot of information through their loyalty programs.

But, there’s a big difference between the casino tracking your play and your player card controlling your game.

Your Player Card and the Slot Game Are Doing Different Jobs

I think the easiest way to understand this is to separate the two systems.
When I put my player card into a slot machine, the card reader identifies me to the casino’s player-tracking system. Basically, it’s saying, Kelly is sitting here playing this machine.

From there, the casino can track my play for things like points, tier credits, and future offers. What it isn’t doing is deciding whether my next spin is going to win.

On a traditional Class III slot machine, the outcome of the game is determined using the game’s random number generator, or RNG.

The player-tracking system isn’t sending my name, loyalty status, previous wins, losses or free play over to the RNG.

That’s not how it works.

I think some of the confusion comes from the fact that, from our side of the machine, everything looks connected. I put my card into the same slot cabinet I’m playing.

My name might pop up on a little screen. I can see my points adding up. I might even be able to check my offers or activate free play.

Then, right below all of that, I’m pressing the button to spin.

It certainly looks like one big system. Behind the scenes, though, those systems are doing completely different jobs.

Think of It Like a Grocery Store Loyalty Card

Here’s an easy comparison.

When I use a loyalty card at the grocery store, the store knows I’m shopping. It can keep track of what I buy, give me discounts and rewards, and probably figure out that I buy way too much peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream.

But my grocery store loyalty account isn’t controlling the cash register. Or how I consume my ice cream or what it will taste like. The player card works in much the same way.

Your player card only tells the casino who is playing. The RNG determines the outcome of the game.

So whether my player card is inserted into the machine, sitting in my purse or back in my hotel room, it isn’t telling the RNG that I’ve won too much, lost too much, used too much free play or received too many comps.

So Why Does the Casino Track My Play?

The casino is tracking information about my play when I use my card. That part is true.

It wants to know things like how long I play, what I play, and how much I’m wagering because that information can be used by the casino’s marketing department to determine my future offers.

And, if the casino is going to offer me gifts, free play, meals, hotel rooms or other perks based on my play, I want to make sure I’m getting it!