What Could Happen When a Player Forgets Their Card?

I'm always careful with my players cards. But due to an unforseen circumstance, I had to leave a machine suddenly and unexpectedly and spaced the card. By the time I remembered I forgot it, I was long gone. Luckily, this was at a Caesars property and I can check my Reward balance and Tier status on the app. Nothing bad happened before I returned to the casino and changed my PIN, but I was still worried. What could have happened if the card had been found by some bad actor?

Casino-goers leave cards in machines by the hundreds, maybe thousands, every day 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. And that might work, at least in the short run. 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 janitors, pick them up and throw them out.

For a bad actor to do anything with your card, he or she would have to try and guess your PIN. It was a good precaution for you to change it, but it's highly doubtful anyone would waste time trying to come up with it. They wouldn't know how many points you have, which could easily be none or just a few. So it's not worth bothering with.

Actually, when it comes to point balances, players are more of a danger to themselves than a laceny-minded stranger. Players cost themselves comps and free play when their points expire. Or they keep large balances in their players club accounts and 1) the casino closes; 2) the casino revamps the comp system such that the points are worth less in the new one than the old; 3) the casino is sold and the new owner devalues the existing points.

The best way not to worry about a lost or forgotten players club card is to cash in your points at the end of every trip to the casino. If, as in your case, you're called away unexpectedly, the only points at (marginal) risk are the ones you just earned.

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Comments

O2bnVegas Nov-07-2025

other outcomes

I have left my card in many times.  I often have an extra card or two with me.  Sometimes, after--I don't know how long a stretch but not that long--when I get to another machine and insert a card, the one I left will register in the system as an "abandoned" card and I am "locked" out of play until I go to the players club.  At the players club they ask for my ID and look in the system.  Not sure what they are looking for, but once satisfied they issue me another card, no change of PIN or anything.
  
This is a little annoying to have to do, but I guess it is some sort of security measure so that no "bad actor" is able to use my points for a meal or other perk.

At points where a comp is redeemed, such as a buffet, the agent usually asks for my ID.  The transaction is usually fairly quickly done, ID quickly checked for what...the photo?  Or the expiration date of the card?  An 'old'/expired card will play in the machine but may not make me eligible for a particular comp.

Candy

O2bnVegas Nov-07-2025

more about the abandoned card

This recently happened to me:

On a recent trip I was ready to get food to go and up to the room, late evening. I entered a 'noodle' place, they told me where to go to request take-out, was told to take a seat.  I was prepared to present my ID, but instead the cashier asked for my Players Card.  OK, gave it to her.  She took it to her machine, scanned it etc., brought me my ticket to sign.  The ticket had my name, hotel room number, etc., from her scanning my Players Card. First time that's ever happened anywhere. 

Made me wonder, would a 'bad actor' have been able to use a purloined/abandoned card this way, get a take out order and run with it?  I'd never been in the place before so it wasn't like they knew me on sight.

Candy

Donzack Nov-07-2025

1,000,000

I knew a player that had one million reward credits at Caesars.  I always keep  mine under ten thousand. You never know how things change.

Sandra Ritter Nov-07-2025

Atlantic City

I'm in the Chicago area. Probably over 10 years ago, I started getting offers from Atlantic City Caesars properties. I also was getting Reward Credits (and probably Tier Credits) from someone else's play. It wasn't lots. I called and they said they'd put a note on my card to be sure a person presents and ID before using the points. Nothing has ever come of it except I still get the offers.

Parrothead Nov-07-2025

Beware

At the least, someone can use your card for free parking. Or you can have comps drained. At most AC casinos you don't need a pin # to use comps. And some cashiers don't even ask for an ID. I thank them each time they ask for an ID

David Sabo Nov-07-2025

An important omission

Let's say you have $1000 in freeplay on your card . You sir down at a machine ans select the free play option. You enter yor pin and begin play after inserting a five dollar bill to prime the machine for play. You selected a $5  per spin machine. On your 2nd pull you hit for $1000. You are so excited that you cash out and leave. Your $990 remaining freplay is available to anyone who sits down at that machine until your card timez out. No pin is required at this point to continue play. If another play inserts money into your machine they can drain your freeplay. They can claim that they never use a slot card and just thought they were lucky. Super important point here.

David Sabo Nov-09-2025

Corrections to my post

sir is sit. ans is and. freplay is freeplay. play is player. I'm of course talking about leaving your players card in a machine in the middle of a freeplay session. Sorry for the mistakes.

churchiec Nov-13-2025

for O2bnVegas

Hi,  Your situation is what the original poster was concerned about, You certainly should have been asked to show your ID

Question of the Day - 07 November 2025

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