Gaming Guru

Why Won't My Slot Club Cards Register?

I have a strange problem concerning the use of my players cards at various casinos. On a recent trip to Biloxi, we spent a few days going to the different casinos. I have players cards for all of them. However, I seem unable to put them in the machine correctly. Each time regardless of the age of the card, it would come up "invalid card". I would get a new one and the same result occurred.

My husband, my friends and even a couple strangers could take the card, insert it and it would immediately begin to retrieve my record.

I am 73, in good health, not taking any strange medications, use simple hand lotions, and cannot understand why this does not work for me. No one could see anything wrong with the way I tried to insert the cards.

Have you ever heard of such a thing? Please advise. I would be most grateful.

Paula

Dear Paula,

That is a strange problem. I've never heard of someone's having consistent problems getting a players card to register that wasn't solved by getting a new card.

Based on the results of your troubleshooting, there is definitely something about you that is causing the problems with your cards because other people can get the same card to register after you have failed. Determining what it is about you that is causing your problems will require more experimentation.

I have two theories.

First theory: Speed of insertion. The card readers seem to be able to handle cards inserted with a wide range of speeds, but maybe your technique is too fast or too slow. Try inserting the card more quickly and more slowly to see if changing the speed with which you insert the card makes a difference.

Second theory: Your aura. I don't really think that you have a field surrounding you that is interfering with the card readers, but perhaps you have some piece of jewelry or electronic device on you that is. Try inserting your card with your other hand. If you have success, then there's something about your primary hand that is causing the problem.

Do you have a pacemaker or other device implanted? If so, it might be generating a field that is upsetting the card readers.

Finally, I doubt that your hand lotion is the culprit, but you could try having a friend apply the lotion to her hands at the same time and in the same way that you do, and then see if your friend also has problems with the card readers.

Let me know the results of my suggestions.

Best of luck getting your cards to register,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.