What Information Does the Pit See off a Players Card?

What information does the pit person see on the screen when you check in with a players card at a 21 table? Are there comments regarding card counting or skill level? What player history can be seen that would be of concern.

This one was a bit of a challenge to track down when we first answered it a few years ago, as it's obviously proprietary information that the casinos don't want players to know about. But we managed to get the Inside scoop and when we went back to our sources, they told us that very little has changed since then. So here it is again.

We’ve answered several questions over the years about the basics of player-rating systems, so we won't repeat that information here. Suffice it to say that there are many different types. With almost all of these rating systems, however, supervisors have access to whatever information is in your rewards account. They can see your address, phone number, birthday, rewards number -- anything you might have provided when you got your card. This is almost universal.

Some systems use software that extracts the information from your identification, so booth personnel don't have to input everything manually. In this case, floor people can see the photo on your ID.

Also common to almost all rating systems, except for the rare casino where they're not computerized, is the alert. These alerts, also known as flags, can be about just about anything.

They can be marketing notes, like comps or other offers that you’ve recently received.

They can be about credit, if you’re a marker player.

Floor people can see comments about your current credit line or any forms that might need to be completed.

Alerts or flags can also be about behavioral problems. If a player has an incident where he got too drunk and uppity with the dealer, other staff, or another guest, there will likely be an alert put in to monitor that guy's behavior.

The same goes for high-maintenance players. You know, the one who wants everything done for them and raises hell if it isn’t.

Another thing the supervisor might see in this alert area, which we suspect to be the reason behind the question, is any confirmation, or even suspicion, of advantage play. The alert might instruct the supervisor to call surveillance for evaluation of your play or even to contact the shift manager immediately to back you off. Anything management wants the next floor person who watches a player to know can be communicated this way.

That’s not to say that these notes always pop up when the card is swiped in. The different rating systems have various places to put messages or alerts. They might get put in a place that doesn’t pop up when the card is swiped. The alert could be there, on the account, though it lies dormant until it's "discovered" by a supervisor with a little initiative.

Alerts can be damaging for sure, but they’re by no means the nail in your coffin. Of course, it’s better to avoid them altogether if possible -- and now that you know what they are, there's no reason you can't.

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.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Has Clark County ever considered legalizing prostitution?

Comments

jay Mar-09-2022

Ratings

Table play, in particular blackjack earns so very little in the way of comp points that its probably not worth even providing a card if your playing less than $100/hand. The house edge is typically around 0.5% assuming perfect basic strategy. That means on a $25bet the house is counting on 12cents. Extrapolating  this out - For the casino to Make $50 they need you to play 420 hands. Of which they might give you back $2.50 (5%) in comp dollars. This doesn't exactly pay for a room or a meal. 

With an average of 4 people at the table you would play 80ish hands per hour. So after 5hrs of play you get $2.50.... 

If you want to be an under the radar advantage player - keep the players card in your pocket. Slip $100 into the machines (with players card) daily and wait for your mailers inviting you back.  

In the mean time be nice to the dealers, and pit bosses, build a relationship and make them come to you.

Roy Furukawa Mar-09-2022

Comp City Part II?

If you’re smart you’d follow the rules Max Rubin laid out in Comp City, but I wonder if some of that information is now outdated or not?

Question of the Day - 09 March 2022

Comments