What Does "Advantage Player Tracking" Mean on a Slot Machine?

I live on the Mississippi Gulf coast. My wife and I are both advantage gamblers. We are currently retired and just trying to stay ahead of the game by playing mostly advantage slot machines. My wife put her card in a machine last night and got a weird result in the display. It came up a blue screen that said “Advantage Player Tracking.” The screen never went to the normal screen that reads points and your name on that machine. Should we be concerned about that? I’m quite sure that both of our accounts are not in the negative and I wonder if they might have her/us on some kind of watch list or whatever. Am I being paranoid or is this something of concern? I know that you guys will know. Thanks in advance if you choose to answer this one.

[Editor's Note: Bob Dancer provides this answer, which turns out not to be sinister at all.]

The first time I heard about the “Advantage Player Tracking” notice, I believed it was a system designed to ferret out good players.

Since then, however, I’ve learned that “Advantage” is simply the name of the player-tracking system, for comps and the like, put out by International Game Technology (IGT). Good players and bad will see this message.

It may well be that the casino is using other means to identify winning players and may restrict them accordingly. But seeing this message is not an indicator of that. It just means that the IGT system is installed there.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Comments

Jackie Sep-28-2020

Tell ya what

Test ol' Bob's theory out!  Get a friend who doesn't gamble to sign up for a players card and lets you use it.  Now insert your card and get the "We're Watching You Screen".  Log out, wait a little bit then use your friends brand new card never inserted before and see which screen you get.

tgabrielli Sep-28-2020

Re: Tell ya what

Jackie: I don't think that's necessary. I trust Bob Dancer's response and have no reason to believe otherwise. You should, too.

O2bnVegas Sep-28-2020

trust Bob

Yes, if anyone know, Bob Dancer knows.

However, I probably would have immediately withdrawn the card, waited half a minute and reinserted it just to see if the same screen came up.  I'd have done it 'cause I do want to see my name and points and all that while I play.  Has it happened when you ( the husband) inserted your card?  Has it continued?  Good luck.

Jackie Sep-28-2020

Reread the QOD

It's not a matter of trust, it is merely testing Bob's theory of IGT's player tracking system.  No where in the QOD answer was any indication of anyone contacting IGT (atypical QOD action) for a response as to what the system is about or tracking.  Learn comprehensive reading instead of emotional reading of anything.  BTW, how could Bob Dancer know if he never asked IGT?  He is guessing!!!

Alex Sep-28-2020

More Info

https://www.igt.com/products-and-services/gaming/systems/igt-advantage

OMB13 Sep-28-2020

Alex

Nothing like a fact-based link to quiet everybody down....Nice Job.
ND

VegasPosse Sep-28-2020

Jackie

Thanks Alex!

Jackie - do some research before you comment, otherwise you're just another D-Bag.

Kevin Lewis Sep-28-2020

It's old news

The casinos have been using sophisticated player tracking algorithms for decades now, and they have been able to tell for some time whether you are an advantage player or not, what you are worth to the casino (or how costly you are to them), and what you had for lunch every day you played. If anyone is worried about their anonymity as an advantage player---well, that ship sailed long ago.

Of course, the casinos didn't figure all this out on their own. Certain advantage players, not to name names, were hired by certain casinos to show them how to ferret out APs. They received consideration both in cash and in continued playing privileges.

Jackie Oct-04-2020

For Alex, OMB13, and VegasPosse

First learn how to read, second Bob was guessing and not referring to a link, third I devised a test to verify Bob's guess.  Most of all providing what you think is proof in no way changes nor diminishes the original issue.

Jackie Oct-04-2020

@ Kevin

I'm pleased to see some players aren't fooled by con artists.

Question of the Day - 28 September 2020

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