For minor normal poker prizes they would prefer to keep the ones they get from playing degen games. A slot player can pretty easily get 5 figures a month in “free” slot play. And since most places avg play over three months even a single poker session can hurt for awhile. I have seen it via my wife. Not that much free play but four figures. The flour that helped her by putting her in from the desk was gone shortly after. This may have been part that.

Hosts at the Bellagio literally tell some people to not clock in at the poker room. They know what's up and have ways to work around it but it really does mess with how Bellagio computers rate you and that limits the packages the hosts can offer.

Good chance the hosts are just being lazy but poker room comps just aren't worth risking free Bellagio suites and free dinners at Michael Mina.

So those of that ONLY play poker at the casino are low life chumps. Take our $1/h comp
And like it.

At my home casino you earn Player points by the hour in the Poker Room that go towards your Gold/Black status for some comps/discounts but I don't think poker affects your 'average bet' and other stats that show up on your win/loss form at year end.

I could be wrong, but I don't play much in the pits either. I've heard plenty of Players say "Just go play 5 hands of $100 BJ and see how your comps change." GL

A large but not whale slot player turning in their card to play poker will negatively impact his theoretical in most systems.

Just like those five hands of BJ will change your offers, so will a couple of hours at poker for a big slot player. But the big move will be opposite direction.

Where is this true? I know for a fact that MGM properties consider poker a completely separate entity when it comes to your average bet and ratings.

The latest one I heard recently really surprised me. I think the guy is overly paranoid, but it was pretty interesting. One of the local casinos here doesn't do any comps, but they've started tracking hours. If you accumulate 150 hours in a quarter or 240 hours in a quarter, you reach a different player status level. Both levels receive a free hotel room once a month for the following quarter (weekends excluded at the 150 hour level). Then, anyone qualifying for either level is entered in a $30,000 free roll tournament (you start the free roll with more chips if you reach the 250 hour level). They claim other perks will be coming along, but the program just started 4 months ago and we haven't seen much else to go with it.

That being said, one of the regular players the other day said he doesn't want to get a players card because he's worried about his home address being in the system. Not so much because he's worried about his wife knowing he's playing poker (she comes with him to the casino sometimes, she knows he gambles), but because he's worried that as long as he's scanned in at the table, someone could access the database and be able to look up his address. They could then use the fact that he's there to go attempt to rob his home. Basically saying, if he's scanned in at the table, they know he's not home.

Personally, I think this is a little over paranoid, but it's something I never truly considered. If someone has access to the whole system, if they know you're there, they also know where you're not

I won't sign up to any casino rewards programmes for any amount of money cause I am banned from entering the casino as part of my parole (the casino don't care though).

But I can firmly say as someone who never had a rewards card anyway, if I weren't in this situation and I could win $1800 I would sign up quicker than a teenager on a camgirl site. It's just not worth the risk getting dinged at the moment though

Likewise to lie in wait for you at your home if you are a high or even medium player and they see you win big.

I actually found out more detail about this. It's through the U.S. Department of Healthcare and Family Services. A website called Gaming Intercept Program Certification System (GIPCS) is used by certain casino representatives to search for anyone delinquent in support payments. The search is triggered anytime a taxable event happens and a W2G is generated based on different types of casino winnings.

I don't there is any such US Department.

Not a Federal program. Several states (Google notes IL, CO and OH but I'm sure there are more.) participate in the GIPCS, but the Federal Government has no authority over things like Child Support other than if you cross state lines to evade, the FBI gets involved.

The specific program named appears to be a State of Illinois program. However, other jurisdictions have similar screening tools.

You're right. I mistakenly added the "U.S." part. Probably just because normally if you're talking about a government department, it's typically a US Department. My mistake.

Comps are one thing ... but for a 'sizable' jackpot most venues will force you to get a Player's card or at least show your ID and fill out paperwork.

One casino I go to requires you to have a Player's card 'before' the hand starts to be eligible for and promotions. That doesn't mean you have to be logged into the system at the table, but you must already be in their system to get paid.

Speaking of the Child Support/Friend of Court issue .. A Maryland Player had her SSN put into the 'checking' data base incorrectly and it came back with her owing a bunch of support .. And they kept her money that night! It was in the Low Content Chat thread and I'm not sure what the resolution, if any, was as of yet. I'm sure Google would spit it out .. GL

She got paid

I was getting much better comps at a resort I loved to visit, until I was a recognized poker player. I didn't know. It's a five hour drive. I was getting three free nights per week and money to gamble. It dropped to '0' free nights and a $5 slot coupon.

It actually makes sense. If all they know is you played 5 hours of slots, they think they can get you to play 19 more hours.

If you got 5 hours of slots and 10 hours of poker, you look very different.

Can anyone else confirm this?

I sometimes wonder if some of the 1-2 regulars are collecting some form of welfare benefits along with trying to grind out a few dollars everyday in the low stakes games. You see them in every cardroom it seems. Young to middle-aged males who are there everyday sitting in the low stakes games. Some obviously do not have a job. they could conceivably be on Medicaid for health insurance and collect food stamps. Or SSI or SSDI. Maybe that would be a reason to hide gambling activity?

We have a Reg that does seem overly concerned about the BBJ and at what level of Promo $$ would generate 'official' paperwork. Michigan had to modify/re-classify the definition of 'income' after a lottery winner was found to have been collecting benefits well after the lottery score.

I'm sure anyone on 'Disability' would be affected somehow in the short term, but I don't think true Social Security would be 'harmed'. GL

SS wouldn't be affected, that's for people over 65. SSI is a welfare payment that people under SS age can get if they have no income. Typically somewhere around $800/month.

This needs more love.

Actually regular ss income as well as SSI and SSDI could be affected by promo winnings. The situation specifics would need to be evaluated but outside income can reduce ss income.

Social Security is a fixed income that US citizens get that's is based on their earnings over their lifetime. You can apply at 62 but the monthly benefit is at its smallest then and you're locked in at that amount for life. The longer you wait to receive SS the higher the monthly check generally. SSDI is also based on your earnings, and you can receive that anytime, but you must but declared unable to work and must go through a rigorous review process with MDs signing off on your disability. SSI is sort of a welfare payment for those with little work history and have shown little ability to hold down a job. Food stamps are another welfare benefit. Then you have Medicaid which is basically free health care for those that don't have an income. I've heard (secondhand, no direct proof) of a few regulars at my local casino who collect the Welfare benefits, and also know at least 3 who are out of work collecting SSDI yet spend their days at the 1-2 tables which led me to wonder whether the state would take an interest in that or not. If they did, that would be a reason not to use a players club card. Does the casino share that info with govt agencies?