Question of the Day - 09 January 2024

[Editor's Note: This was a question for Jean Scott, which she graciously answers here.]

Well, though this question looks basic, it took me four books to answer it. But here's my try for a very condensed version of the answer.  

Many casinos now have phone apps where you can check your players-card "score." But you should be careful of labels; many casinos have two kinds of credits that accumulate at the same time. The tier score indicates your level of benefits, while the second one shows the number of credits you have for cashback and/or free play. You need study the systems of the casinos where you play to fully understand the difference. As always, my advice is read everything you can get your hands on about the specifics of a players club, such as brochures at the players club booth, online at the casino's website, and chat groups that discuss the ins and outs of club benefits. 

If you don't have the app and you want to determine your free play and credits when you go to the casino, you can ask at the players club desk. In the Dark Ages a few decades ago, booth personnel at many casinos were trained to dissemble when asked for this information, but these days, that information is readily accessible just by asking. 

You can also avail yourself of some of this information at a machine by checking the scrolling message on the card reader on the front face.  But the problem is that there is no standard system here. Some, but not all, casinos provide totals (either for the day or cumulative) for both kinds of credits -- tier credits and spendable reward credits. Many require that you take your card out and then re-insert to get updated information.

Some of the more modern systems have a small screen for the card reader information. You put in your PIN to access this screen and perform the various functions. One function might show your account information, i.e., the number of various kinds of credits. Another might show how much free play you've earned and can cash in for free dollars available to be downloaded to your machine and ready for you to play off. Some might even let you register for promotions or drawings. 

The long and short of it is this: The more you study about a casino's players club system, the more you'll be able to use it intelligently and thus never overlook benefits that might put some money in your pocket or comps for your stay.