Have stressed for years on this forum that it is of tremendous value to you as a casino patron to use your slot card.
Obviously the most common place to use your card is for playing slots/video poker, but many can also be used to track your play in the race and sportsbook, and at the gaming tables also.
The following is a nice excerpt on the value of slot cards curtosy of VPR........
Almost every casino offers some kind of "Slot Club" or "Player's Club". For video poker players, participation in the slot club is essential. When entering a casino for the first time, your first stop should be at the player's club booth to get a card (in fact, you may want to get several -- just ask).
Slot clubs offer many benefits, but the most important are listed below:<!--mstheme--><!--msthemelist--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><!--msthemelist--><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=baseline width=42>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><!--mstheme-->[FONT=Arial, Arial, Helvetica]
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><!--mstheme-->[FONT=Arial, Arial, Helvetica]
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><!--mstheme-->[FONT=Arial, Arial, Helvetica]
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><!--mstheme-->[FONT=Arial, Arial, Helvetica]
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><!--mstheme-->[FONT=Arial, Arial, Helvetica]
Obviously the most common place to use your card is for playing slots/video poker, but many can also be used to track your play in the race and sportsbook, and at the gaming tables also.
The following is a nice excerpt on the value of slot cards curtosy of VPR........
Almost every casino offers some kind of "Slot Club" or "Player's Club". For video poker players, participation in the slot club is essential. When entering a casino for the first time, your first stop should be at the player's club booth to get a card (in fact, you may want to get several -- just ask).
Slot clubs offer many benefits, but the most important are listed below:<!--mstheme--><!--msthemelist--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><!--msthemelist--><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=baseline width=42>
Cash back -- Many casinos have some kind of "cash back" provision, so that you get some percentage of the amount you play back in cash. The amount of cash back varies from one casino to another, but it is based on "points" that are accumulated as you play. Always cash out your card at the end of a casino trip -- should you not return to the casino for an extended period, your points can be erased (many casinos maintain points on a card for some predetermined period, like three, six or twelve months, then erase them). <!--mstheme-->[/FONT]<!--msthemelist-->
</TD></TR><!--msthemelist--><TR><TD vAlign=baseline width=42>
Comp meals -- Casinos will often provide free meals after some amount of slot (or video poker) play. Some will provide a buffet comp after a few hours of play, others require a certain number of points, etc. After you have some playing time, go to the player's club booth and say, "Could I get a buffet comp, please?". If you don't have enough play, they'll tell you -- but usually, you'll get it. Just remember -- if you don't ask, you don't get. <!--mstheme-->[/FONT]<!--msthemelist-->
</TD></TR><!--msthemelist--><TR><TD vAlign=baseline width=42>
Comp Lodging -- If you play enough, casinos will provide a "comp" room, and if you play even more, a suite. Lodging obviously requires more play than just getting a free buffet, but depending on the season, how busy the hotel is, and numerous other factors, you may be surprised. In general, when you call to make reservations at the hotel, you'll need to speak with either "VIP Services" or a "Casino Host", who will look at your play from your previous trips and determine whether you will be comped. If they won't comp you, ask whether they can provide a casino rate -- this is a room at less than the going rate for the night. If it is your first trip to the particular casino, don't expect to be comped up-front. However, if you have a lot of play during your stay, ask a casino host about comping you after-the-fact. In general, it seems to take a lot more play to get an after-the-fact comp than it does before your stay, so whenever possible, get the comp up front. <!--mstheme-->[/FONT]<!--msthemelist-->
</TD></TR><!--msthemelist--><TR><TD vAlign=baseline width=42>
Mail Offers & Free Money -- After you've visited a casino and played some, you can expect them to pursue you further. You will receive mailings that contain coupons redeemable for food, rooms, and even money. Generally, the coupons are limited as to the dates they are valid. If you play a little, you may get a discount on a room for a weekday, if you play more a free room on a weekday. If you play quite a bit, you may get a prized free room on a weekend. Casinos with great hotel and meal offers may offer lower cash back; casinos with minimal hotel properties may offer more meals and free money offers. Casinos with a really good selection of first-rate games may be very stingy with comps. And casinos with really bad (low-paying) video poker games may be very forthcoming with comps. <!--mstheme-->[/FONT]<!--msthemelist-->
</TD></TR><!--msthemelist--><TR><TD vAlign=baseline width=42>
Gift Shop Comps - Usually, you can elect to "spend" your comps at the casino's gift shop, if you have a mind to do so. <!--mstheme-->[/FONT]<!--msthemelist-->
</TD></TR><!--msthemelist--></TBODY></TABLE><!--mstheme-->[FONT=Arial, Arial, Helvetica]Before you begin playing any game, be sure you have your player's club card properly inserted in the slot and that it has been accepted (most will display your name once the card has been read properly).
The ways in which casinos accumulate "comps" vary from one casino to another. Frequently, "points" are used for computing cash back benefits only, while other measures are used for determining the casino "comps" you qualify for. The casino tracks how much time you spend playing, how much money you win or lose, your total "coin-in", and anything else they care to track. From this information, they can determine with some degree of accuracy how much you should be comped. Often, comps are based on your playing time, where the casino knows that so many hours of playing time translates to a certain numbers of dollars lost by the player.
Couples may want to consider playing on a single card in some circumstances. While the casinos often frown on this practice, it does give the appearance that one player is spending more money. If you are just visiting the casino for a brief period, you may have no chance at getting comped for a buffet if playing on two separate cards; but if both are playing on a single card, you may at least get one of your buffets comped. If you're unsure, you may just have to try both methods and see which works best at a given casino.
You will generally find casinos to be much more accommodating on weekdays than on weekends -- obviously, this is because they want to encourage weekday customers when the casinos are relatively empty. Also, the busier casinos naturally will be less free with comps.
The important point is that you should take advantage of whatever is offered; failure to do so is leaving money on the table.
<!--msthemeseparator-->[/FONT]The ways in which casinos accumulate "comps" vary from one casino to another. Frequently, "points" are used for computing cash back benefits only, while other measures are used for determining the casino "comps" you qualify for. The casino tracks how much time you spend playing, how much money you win or lose, your total "coin-in", and anything else they care to track. From this information, they can determine with some degree of accuracy how much you should be comped. Often, comps are based on your playing time, where the casino knows that so many hours of playing time translates to a certain numbers of dollars lost by the player.
Couples may want to consider playing on a single card in some circumstances. While the casinos often frown on this practice, it does give the appearance that one player is spending more money. If you are just visiting the casino for a brief period, you may have no chance at getting comped for a buffet if playing on two separate cards; but if both are playing on a single card, you may at least get one of your buffets comped. If you're unsure, you may just have to try both methods and see which works best at a given casino.
You will generally find casinos to be much more accommodating on weekdays than on weekends -- obviously, this is because they want to encourage weekday customers when the casinos are relatively empty. Also, the busier casinos naturally will be less free with comps.
The important point is that you should take advantage of whatever is offered; failure to do so is leaving money on the table.