Using a player’s card or loyalty card has absolutely no effect on your chances of winning. Ifanything, the opposite is true. By not using a card you are missing out on the extra value you can get in exchange for your playing activity, which may include free credits. Having your player's club card inserted in the machine wields no influence on the performance of the game, how much you win or lose, or whether or not you hit a jackpot.
Relying on lucky rituals in an attempt to up the odds of a favorable outcome dates back to early man. Tribal dancing and other assorted ceremonies have been performed to attract the favor of the Gods since ancient times. While most of these ritual superstitions have disappeared, there are still many intelligent and enlightened people who carry vestiges of the old ways when they visit a casino. Sure, most players know that hitting the big jackpot is a matter of chance. Even so, some of them resort to some interesting and sometimes bizarre rituals of their own to ensure good luck while they play. Here are just a few.
Pre-Gambling Rituals
Many players check their horoscopes before they head out for a trip to the casino but whether or not good fortune can really be foretold in the stars is anyone's guess. Biorhythms are also consulted prior to hitting the slots or the tables—but again, it's not the kind of science that's entirely scientific.
Some players try to attract good luck even before they head out the door, donning so-called 'lucky' clothing or jewelry that they always wear while gambling. Almost anything can become a lucky gambling tradition—even a casserole. “Several times when we went on gambling trips, we had a ranch style casserole the night before and we won pretty big,' one casino goer recalls. 'So, now my husband insists that on the night before every trip we have to have this dish.'
Wishes and Prayers
Perhaps the most common lucky ritual is tossing money into a fountain or other body of water (like a koi pond) in or near the casino. These “wishing wells” are actually more lucky for the casinos than the gamblers. The house nets thousands of dollars each year from players who believe releasing a little coin karma can bring them good luck as long as they make a wish while they're doing it.
Some players believe in the power of prayer. It's not uncommon to see players holding rosary beads, crosses, or crucifixes in one hand as they push the spin button with the other. Some even pray out loud. (If you're this type of holy high roller, it's recommended that you keep your religious entreaties to a reasonable decibel level so as not to disturb your fellow players.)
Lucky Talisman
Carrying a lucky charm is another popular ritual that players use in an effort to lure Lady Luck to their sides. Some players display their trinkets openly, while others keep them hidden. Poker players often use lucky charms as card protectors in the belief that this tactic disguises their true purpose at the table.
Wishniks and Trolls (the fuzzy-headed dolls that came to fame in the 1960s) seem to be the lucky charm of choice among the Bingo crowd. Walk through any Bingo hall and you'll see more different hair colors than you will find in a box of Crayola crayons—and some of these rainbow colors are even on the dolls.
Teddy Bears and other stuffed animals—and the people who own them—are also frequent visitors to the casino floor. One of the stranger sights in Las Vegas was the slot machine player who was regularly accompanied by a large Teddy bear—we're talking the size of a four-year-old child. The bear was seen perched on the man's knee facing the machine. He talked to his Teddy in a very animated way between spins and even used its paw to hit the spin button. It's hard to say who was the luckier of the two.
Manipulating the Machine
Most players know that there's no way to influence the outcome of a spin on a slot machine but many of them still try different approaches, as if the machine had feelings or was conscious of their attention. Some players actually get personal with the machines, kissing, fondling or sweet talking them in hopes of persuading the machine to grant them favors, regardless of the odds. In one casino, a player was overheard pleading with the slot to “Please, please, let me win! Come on, give me the money!' as she rubbed her hands all over it.
Players also attempt to up their odds by varying their routine as they play. One video poker player revealed her mix-it-up strategy as follows: She'd push the re-deal button if she won a hand but if she lost, she'd hit the single bet button five times.
Another player confessed, “I also like to tap the right side of my VP machines before hitting the deal button. I seem to think I'm hypnotizing them, and I then tell the machine what cards to deal. Sometimes it works!”
The most common practice involves players removing and reinserting slot cards as they play, working on the theory that the machine might think a new player was sitting down when they did. Other players frequently cash out so they are able to feed fresh bills into their machine of choice. Like the slot-card swappers, they actually believe the machine knows if someone new is sitting down to play.
Make Your Own Luck
There's absolutely no proof that charms, clothes, casseroles, or Teddy Bears can influence your luck at the casino. However, people who feel lucky and happy seem to have a much more enjoyable wherever they go and whatever they do. If carrying a lucky charm or performing a little ritual while you play makes you feel good, then go right ahead.
Anyway, don't know about the rest. Always interesting to hear individual results from enforcement. Never really know what they are going to do next.
out acts likes this rather severely.
Probably not illegal, but your friend may spend $30k-80k in lawyer fees to prove that. Just because something is legal, doesn't mean you should do it or you will get away with it. You may PM for more detailed advice.
It is not illegal. Why would he spend 30k and up? The charge must be for something that is illegal. You don't have to prove a charge that doesn't exist.
In fact, if this was not a tribal casino, the casino would end up paying when a lawyer took them to court for illegal imprisonment. However, since it is a tribal casino, there is probably little recourse for a lawsuit.
It is not illegal. Why would he spend 30k and up? The charge must be for something that is illegal. You don't have to prove a charge that doesn't exist.
In fact, if this was not a tribal casino, the casino would end up paying when a lawyer took them to court for illegal imprisonment. However, since it is a tribal casino, there is probably little recourse for a lawsuit.
BTW - Every casino has published consequences in their club rules of what happens during unauthorized use of the cards by members other than the card holder. In every casinos literature, the consequences are usually forfeiture of promotional comp and, termination of membership. This is a casino standard (check the rules on almost every casinos website if you don't believe me.)
The published consequences are the only consequences the casino can do. If there were laws (you could be charged with a crime) then that would be stated.
Now, use of the cards without other players permission is a crime (theft of comps) and the tribal casino may be investigating (I'm sure they are not going to take your friends word for it.) Most likely, they will email or call the card holders to confirm. If they say they know nothing about it (to keep their comps) then your friend may be in trouble but these people would have to testify at a trial. And then your friend may have to spend thousands to get through this pickle. He should tell his family and friends to speak the truth if the casino contacts them.
One tribal casino operating in Connecticut states 'membership benefits are non-transferable,' the other says 'benefits are only valid for the guest whose name appears on the card.' I think it probable the tribal casino your friend visited has a similar provision, and if so, he was violating tribal law. That said, it is generally known that spouses sharing a card is tolerated, but playing a large number of other people's cards is not. Your friend should have been aware of the risk he was taking. If you take the casinos money in a way they don't approve, of course they will step on you hard.
Please recognize that rules of a casino are not laws. Now tribal lands may be different however, if you were in a non-tribal casino and the rules you stated above were printed, this would not make using multiple cards illegal - because a casino is not a lawmaking body.
Now, I looked up 3 OK tribal casinos (there are about 500) and I noted two things about all of them.
1) none printed the rules of membership period. Nothing about consequences of using another players card. As BleedingChipsSlowly points out, the tribal casino in Connecticut certainly does.
2) These casinos are really small. One boasts of just 200 slots. In most casinos its impossible to catch this because they don't have the manpower to zoom in on thousands of players at the slots to check on who is using someone else's card but these casinos are so small, the guy probably gave himself away by switching cards
Please recognize that rules of a casino are not laws. Now tribal lands may be different however, if you were in a non-tribal casino and the rules you stated above were printed, this would not make using multiple cards illegal - because a casino is not a lawmaking body.
Now, I looked up 3 OK tribal casinos (there are about 500) and I noted two things about all of them.
1) none printed the rules of membership period. Nothing about consequences of using another players card. As BleedingChipsSlowly points out, the tribal casino in Connecticut certainly does.
2) These casinos are really small. One boasts of just 200 slots. In most casinos its impossible to catch this because they don't have the manpower to zoom in on thousands of players at the slots to check on who is using someone else's card but these casinos are so small, the guy probably gave himself away by switching cards
he is 'earning' the free/match play by first risking money of his own
You seem to suggest your friend gives the free play earned to the person who loaned him the card. That is certainly still not going to be liked by the casino but probably they would tolerate it to some degree if they knew for sure that was the case. If I was the casino I'd assume it was situation #1 above without the granted permission though; I'd see if I could prove it too.
I agree that it seems they could have just banned him instead of going nuts; however, if the amounts he has accumulated trip over into the felony zone? You have to figure this sometimes happens. Since you are defending your friend, I'll go along with the idea that he was no such thief and sympathize. I'm sure you are confident about the quality of his character. Did you give him your card and pin ?