Can Someone Steal Comps from a Found Players Card?

I mistakenly left my players card in a slot machine. Should I be worried that someone could use it to steal my comps for cash? My pin number is easy to guess and comps for cash can be redeemed right at the machine. Should I be concerned?

[Editor's Note: We handed this one off to Jean Scott, who has four decades of experience with players clubs and confesses that down through the years, she's left more cards than she cares to remember in machines.]

Casino-goers leave thousands, and maybe hundreds of thousands of players cards, in machines in casinos all over the world.

Some do it on purpose, hoping that the next player will come along, keep playing on their card, and rack up more points for them. Actually, that might work for short periods. However, most players take out a card left in the machine, put it on top (or even in the slot of the machine next to it), and insert their own card into the machine that they're playing. Employees, usually the janitors, pick them up and throw them out.

And I doubt that anyone would even try to guess your PIN. Why waste time like that? They don't know it's an easy number. It could be any combination. Perhaps you should change your PIN to something less common if you don't want to worry about that.

A bigger danger is that employees with access to players card information, including PINs, might empty out accounts that have large comp/cash balances. I don't think that this happens very often. But I have heard a few reports of this, especially if these large balances are in accounts of players who don't use their card very often and they're about to expire.

In the end, players "lose" comps and cashback most frequently because they either aren't aware of or forget that almost all casinos set expiration times for points in accounts that have been inactive for a while, generally as long as a year, but often as short as six months. (This even happened to as savvy a casino consumer as Anthony Curtis recently, which he wrote about in the November issue of the Las Vegas Advisor.) The expiration details are stated in the information about the club and usually you cannot get the time extended. (Anthony couldn't.) I've heard of instances in which a player could get a host to extend the time or return expired points in emergency situations, like a long illness. Otherwise, you most often find yourself out of luck.

There are also other reasons not to keep a large balance in your players club account. If a casino closes, kiss your points goodbye. If a casino is sold, the new owners might revamp the comp system and the points will be worth less in the new one. Heck, the current casino owners can revamp the system; Boyd Gaming is still feeling the fallout of the last time they did so. All of these situations have happened to me.

I've always been frugal and a saver, but especially in this case, it doesn't pay to be a hoarder. Cash in your points at the end of every trip!

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Comments

jpfromla Nov-18-2022

No Request For ID

Another issue with a lost card is that someone can try to buy something using credits and if the clerk does not ask for ID your credits are spent.  Certain casino venue staff are not asking for ID, when they should.

John Hearn Nov-18-2022

Jean makes me money

Thank you Queen! This is why I LVA.

VegasVic Nov-18-2022

ID

JP is right. ID's are often used, not pins.   When you use your points in a restaurant for example they are suppose to make you show ID, to match it to your card.  But they don't always do that. In fact in my experience I'd say it's 50/50.

Ray Nov-18-2022

Really?

JP and Vic, where do they NOT make you show your ID? I have never used my card at the players club, restaurant or gift shop without them requiring ID.

Kevin Lewis Nov-18-2022

Not to worry

Over the last several years, I've NEVER redeemed points for comps without being asked to show ID. I think the casinos are getting more diligent about this, doubtless because a customer or two got ripped off and raised hell.

Terry Regnier Nov-18-2022

Stolen

JP - this actually just happened to me in September. Someone used some of my reward credits at a gift shop at Caesars. (We were staying at Bally's) When I noticed that over $400 worth of credits were missing I spoke to the rewards desk and they said they were used at Caesars. Told them I haven't been there, they ran an investigation and about a month later they refunded my credits. Obviously the clerk did not ask for an ID.

Doozey Nov-18-2022

room charges

When staying in a hotel room you may charge meals, drinks, gifts to your room.  Several times I have had charges to my room that I did not make. Every time the front desk this is impossible because bartenders, cashiers, wait staff are required to check ID for room charges. Also there have been charges to my room for drinks and food from the in room fridge and snack shelf. $200 at the pool, $350 at a golf course belonging to Caesars, $45 for a bottle of wine. So far I have managed to have charges removed. All ways check your bill at check out.

Doozey Nov-18-2022

room charges

When staying in a hotel room you may charge meals, drinks, gifts to your room.  Several times I have had charges to my room that I did not make. Every time the front desk says this is impossible because bartenders, cashiers, wait staff are required to check ID for room charges. Also there have been charges to my room for drinks and food from the in room fridge and snack shelf. $200 at the pool, $350 at a golf course belonging to Caesars, $45 for a bottle of wine. So far I have managed to have charges removed. All ways check your bill at check out.

Doozey Nov-18-2022

edit function

your edit function works, sort of

David Sabo Nov-18-2022

Free Play

I have walked away from a machine with my card still in during a free play session. If you ever do this anyone can access your free play without even using a pin as long as the slot card has not timed out. When using free play be especially careful to check to make sure you pull your card out at the end of the session. FYI

jpfromla Nov-18-2022

CET

CET is particularly bad.  Many retail and restaurants don't check ID.  But, entry to the former Laurel Lounges always asked for ID.  Also, someone used my Diamond Dinner in Reno last year.  Have not been to Reno in 15 years.  Got it back.

Question of the Day - 18 November 2022

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