These 3 cards (reverse side shown - I did 'em big so you could read the fine print) all support what some in the industry are trying to do to slots; make the CASHLESS. You heard me right, if you didn't like the move to COINLESS (=no coins/hopper in a slot machine, paper money in via a bill validator, credits returned via ticket printer), then you are just going to love CASHLESS. Initially, a casino will install special player tracking readers that read player cards with a Smart Chip (see pics). As a test, they'll see how many people still prefer putting paper money in, and printing tickets out vs. people that like all their money to stay on their player tracking card & smart chip (no more bill validator jams, no more out of paper or jams on the ticket printers...). Add it all up, and the cost to a casino of having games down & repair costs for bad bill validators & ticket printers - and you can see where the future is probably headed... You may ask - what if I leave an orphan (forget your card in the machine)? Well, somebody is going to play your money right off, if they are quick enough! Sit for too long without playing, and you'll have to enter your pin again. Lose your card outright, and the system is supposed to remember how much you had on it, so you can get a replacement. How many times have you left your ATM card in the ATM machine, and did somebody get all your money when you did? That's probably going to be the model they use to justify this major technological switch.

First card is a promo card from Atronic Systems - they are one of many companies trying to sell this technology to the casinos (along with IGT & Aristocrat, that I know of). Second card is from the Grand Sierra in Reno, it's currently only used in their new wine bar - you put cash on the card at the hostess table, and then put your card in the wine vendor that lets you select 1-3-5 oz of whichever wine you are looking at through the glass display case; push the button, and your wine pours from the spigot into the glass you are holding (or your open mouth - just thought of that, gotta try it next time) and the money is deducted from your card automatically. Third card is from the wine vendor manufacturer, I got it at a promotional party that just happened to be going on my first night at the Grand Sierra's wine bar - I particularly like how they made the Smart Chip look like it's the cork flying out of the bottle. No traders (yet).