Hi Johnny:

I personally find slotting to be great entertainment. There are too many people who do not use a rewards card because they beleive it negatively impacts their slot session.

This is a myth.

The slot card is used to track COIN IN / COIN OUT stats for users. This information is used to determine the levels of comps you will receive. If you are missing out on this, you are often missing out on meal comps, slot comps, hotel comps, concert tickets, and more. In the US, many casinos can use your Players Card to generate a report for income tax purposes.

Always take advantage of the players card programs. It's something you have earned.

//// the Shamus ////\

I have been lucky to be on the receiving end of comps. I recently went to Casino Rama and enjoyed a one night stay as well as food comps.

Hi mj23:

I've enjoyed some comps from Casino Rama myself. One of my favorite comps was tickets to see Robin Williams. Despite recent heart surgery, Williams is a performer still at the top of his game. I would highly recommend checking out Robin Williams as one of the best standup comedians on the planet.

//// the Shamus ////\

Hi everyone!!! Honestly, using a players card does NOT change the way the machines play at all. All players are doing by not using their cards is hurting themselves by not earning comps! Everyone, I URGE you to use your players cards!!! We spend so much money playing our favorite games we deserve our comps!

Hi Deb:

In Canada, slot wins are tax free. In the US, I understand you need to subtract wins from losses, and declare any gains on your yearly income tax return.

Can you carry net losses forward to other years, or are wins just contained within a year.

I wonder if any slot manufacturers have thought about advertising machines, or bet levels, where the top prize is just under the line for filling out a tax form (is it $1200)?

Will all casinos print your win/loss for the year for no charge?

Great to see you on!

//// the Shamus ////\

Totally agree about Robin Williams, he's wonderful.

I agree, I love all my player cards from various Vegas casinos, in fact the only complaint I have is when the slot doesn't register the card and I don't notice that and I'm playing without getting my points.

The casinos I gamble at so far always provide by request online or in the mail a end of year loss/win statement. Funny thing even though we might have several hand pays a year, our losses over the whole year seem to out pace our wins. I'm sure that's a shocker. ;)

Of course what they don't add in to the win/loss statement for the year, which for some of us might be the break even point or even put us ahead for the year is the comps we get from using the player's card, from free play, suites, food&Beverage, shows, gift cards, airfare, to celebrity parties.

Hi Evoni:

re: Our losses over the whole year seem to out pace our wins. I'm sure that's a shocker. ;)

Gasp! <shocked, as predicted>

re: "... put us ahead for the year is the comps we get from using the player's card, from free play, suites, food&Beverage, shows, gift cards, airfare, to celebrity parties."

Airfare? Celebrity parties? I need to hook up with your casino! I can't even get a seat on the courtesy shuttle from the mall! <LOL>

//// the Shamus ////\

<<<I wonder if any slot manufacturers have thought about advertising machines, or bet levels, where the top prize is just under the line for filling out a tax form (is it $1200)?>>>

Yes. In fact, a number of older slot machines had a top jackpot of $1199. On some games you'll still see a top award of 1199 coins, even if it isn't a $1 machine -- it's a result of those games that were set up to have a jackpot just under the W-2G threshold.

Hi knagl:

Good to know ... sounds like an interesting selling point for a machine.

//// the Shamus ////\

Harrah's and MGM win/loss statements can be obtained online. Golden Nugget will also send statements. I have talked to Harrah's about having access to the current year win/loss statement, to see how I stand during the current year. No luck yet. It would be nice to know how I stand during the year. I don't always have tax taken out for wins over $2000 (some cases $600) because I know I have enough in losses that they can be written off.