Slot Clubs
Slot Clubs
Now that your bankroll is secure and you are ready to get a 90% to 95% return
on your slot play, you are ready to go over the 100% return mark. The casino
provides the means, you just have to take advantage of it.
All you have to do is JOIN THE SLOT CLUB and USE YOUR CARD EVERYTIME YOU PLAY.
Every casino has a slot club or players club. The casino looks on the players
club as one of its major marketing efforts. The procedure for joining is simple.
Just ask any employee where the player's club booth is. The person manning the
booth will fill out a membership card for you and ask for some photo ID. You
will be issued a credit card sized player's card in your name. It is now time to
invoke the first rule of maximizing your comps, "Obtain an additional players
card". Just ask for one, if the employee balks, tell them that you like to
play two machines at once. Players cards are disposable. They will issue you
another one or two just for asking so don't worry if you lose one.
When you go to a slot machine, insert your card in the card reader. Make sure
that the card is accepted. You are now connected to the players club computer
which will track your play. All you have to do now is to go about your normal
play. The reason you got two cards is that many people gamble with a partner.
Give the extra card to your partner and you will rack up double the amount of
points. This is a much better method than both of you joining the club with
separate accounts. There are other reasons for the greedy and unscrupulous to
get an extra card, which I will cover later.
Collecting your comps is just as easy as earning them. When you are ready to
collect, just go over to the players club booth, present your card, and ask if
you have anything coming. The employee will check your account on the players
club computer and tell you what you are entitled to. If you have a comp coming,
they will issue it on the spot, usually a free buffet, or two, or a credit at a
casino restaurant. Some casinos have prize books that catalog the prizes.
Instead of a price for each comp, the catalog will quote a certain number of
points that are needed, for example 1,000 points for a room or 200 points for a
buffet breakfast. The employee will tell you how many points you have and it is
a simple matter of choosing your comp out of the catalog.
The most technologically advanced casinos have taken a further step and
automated the comps reward procedure. These venues have installed comps kiosks
that look and work just like ATM's. Instead of dollars in a bank account,
however, these machines are tied into your comps account. You insert your
players card, tap in your PIN and the comp kiosk will tell you what comps, or
cash back, you are entitled to. At that point you can ask for a meal comp of,
say $50, and the machine will print it up for you. Just trundle off to the
buffet with your comp and chow down.
Slot Club Myths
There are absolutely no reasons not to join the slot club and use the card at
every opportunity. There are some myths, however that people use for not joining
the club and receiving the benefits.
Slot Club Myth #1--The government, or the casino, can keep track of my play.
This is true but, believe it or not, this fact actually works to your benefit in
both cases. You want the casino to track your play. That is how you rack up
points towards your comps. As for the government, if you hit a big jackpot, the
IRS will be there for their cut. You might want to retrieve a record of your
losses to offset the tax bite.
Slot Club Myth #2--I will go on a mailing list.
Absolutely correct, you want to go on a mailing list. How else can the casino
send you deals for reduced rooms and notify you of special events?
Slot Club Myth #3--I am afraid of losing my card. Somebody else might use it.
Don't worry about it, this is a good thing. The only thing someone else can do
with your card is add points to your account. The casino will give you another
one, as many as you want.
