czechs play: players card

[czechs play]

As an AP, I've always wondered if getting a players card and getting rated would help with my camo. I always feel that I'm more closely watched as a player without a card vs. someone being rated. maybe it's paranoia, or that i've been backed off more times than I care to count. The freebies that come with getting rated don't matter to me more so than the casinos knowing my personal info. Any insight from APs who do play with a card?

A while ago, there was a post about casinos employing a facial scanning system to detect the "undesirables." Software that measures distances between the retinas, yadda yadda yadda. Is this technology truth or rumor? I was playing at a reputable (i.e. not a sweatshop) touristy casino on the strip with decent DD rules when I got backed off. I went back to this same casino 9 months since that last visit, and they backed me off again, while mentioning they "remembered" me from my last visit back in such and such month. I was stunned. I keep my sessions short; i never stay at the hotel where I am AP'ing; i visit the lovely city only 3 times a year; i can't figure out what methods they are employing to obtain this info. Maybe it's the spacing between my retinas!

[Parker]

> As an AP, I've always wondered if getting a
> players card and getting rated would help
> with my camo. I always feel that I'm more
> closely watched as a player without a card
> vs. someone being rated. maybe it's
> paranoia, or that i've been backed off more
> times than I care to count. The freebies
> that come with getting rated don't matter to
> me more so than the casinos knowing my
> personal info. Any insight from APs who do
> play with a card?

This varies greatly by casino and betting level. At higher betting levels, refusing to be rated will quite likely raise a red flag to the pit. After all, what sort of person turns down freebies - unless they have something to hide?

Also, at least for a green chip level bettor, comps are important. When your expectation is only a couple of greenies/hour, expenses become significant. If you're shelling out full pop for a room and meals, it is difficult to show a profit even when variance smiles your way.

The same caveats that apply to any play apply even more so when being rated. Keep sessions short, don't spread too brazenly or in strict lockstep with the count, toke a dealer now and then, and smile and be nice to everybody.

> A while ago, there was a post about casinos
> employing a facial scanning system to detect
> the "undesirables." Software that
> measures distances between the retinas,
> yadda yadda yadda. Is this technology truth
> or rumor? I was playing at a reputable (i.e.
> not a sweatshop) touristy casino on the
> strip with decent DD rules when I got backed
> off. I went back to this same casino 9
> months since that last visit, and they
> backed me off again, while mentioning they
> "remembered" me from my last visit
> back in such and such month. I was stunned.
> I keep my sessions short; i never stay at
> the hotel where I am AP'ing; i visit the
> lovely city only 3 times a year; i can't
> figure out what methods they are employing
> to obtain this info. Maybe it's the spacing
> between my retinas!

You're referring to FRS, or Facial Recognition Software. It does indeed exist, but is not yet perfected. For starters, they need a good clear head-on facial shot for reference - so stop staring at those little domes on the ceiling! :-)

I'm more inclined to suspect that you ran afoul of some wiley veteran pitboss with a very good memory.

[mr bojangles]

I wholeheartedly agree with Parker when he says that refusing a card can raise a red flag. If your camo is good and your sessions short take the card and the freebies it brings your way. I digress slightly but it amuses me that AP's turn comps down when most of the other Vegas regulars are bemoaning there demise

On the FRS front the system is still pretty primitaive and unreliable. Heathrow airport in London England has had it or a version of it since the 80's to no great avail.