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Single or Joint Accounts?

Discussion in 'Comps' started by Char1, Feb 25, 2015.

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  1. Char1

    Char1 VIP Whale

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    I have a question, is there any advantage or disadvantage to have joint account players cards?
     
  2. viraldemos

    viraldemos Tourist

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    Well, you earn points faster and will share the same benefits if you visit separately - but if you were to split the account later on, one of you would lose all the benefits/points.
     
  3. Corinne

    Corinne Low-Roller

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    And another question please along these lines. Can you have a joint account with a friend not registered at your address or can you pretend they are your partner? Thanks guys.
     
  4. Char1

    Char1 VIP Whale

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    We visit at the same time. That's why I ask if there is any advantage either way?
     
  5. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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    he only real benefit of a joint card is that either of you can take a comp or go to the player's desk to inquire about the account without the other one. Other than that there's nothing really better about a joint account.

    Most of the time it's better if you have separate accounts for comp purposes. For instance:

    If you have one spouse who plays pretty high and another who plays low, it's better to just use the higher spouses card for all gambling (unless at a table which the pit may not allow anyways). That way the lower player just adds more to the higher players account, making the comps more generous and other benefits easier to achieve. Most of the time the lower player isn't going to qualify for any comps anyways but the extra play helps the higher player. The downside to this is that the offers will always only be for the higher player and therefore if the lower player wants to go on a trip alone they won't be able to take advantage of the offers.

    If you have two spouses who play about the same and are both mid level type players who can qualify for comps/offers on their standalone play, it still usually makes sense to keep separate accounts rather than have a joint account. That way each of you will be able to book offers under each of your names, giving you the ability to have more nights comped, extra FP, extra Food, Shows, etc. If you played the same on a joint account they aren't going to give you double everything, you'd probably just get 20-30% more of the extras like FP and FB.

    And if you have spouses who both play very small, it's best to use one card again I believe (but I could be wrong on this one). I would think that two micro rollers playing on one card may look like one decent low roller to the casino and they may throw them some lower level comps that they wouldn't qualify for as two separate players. However, they may look at it the same if your accounts are linked anyways. Not sure on that.

    So generally speaking, it almost always makes more sense to keep separate accounts, unless for some reason you really need both spouses to be able to access comps and the account when not together.

    ETA: Having a joint account would also allow both to take advantage of tier perks without the other. So if you're Platinum at Mlife you could skip the cab line even if on your own. Then again every time I've used my card for any of the line cutting perks they don't even look at the name, I just flash it. But I guess it would matter on some things like the Diamond show tickets at CET?
     
  6. Char1

    Char1 VIP Whale

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    Thanks stackinchips, that is what I was looking for!
    Cheers
     
  7. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    I agree with you Stack. But just to clarify, my wife gets multiple player cards in her name. We both use her players cards for slots and barely make Platinum. I will put some play on my own card now and then so I'm still active in their system. You're right, the table games pits don't like you using duplicate cards but the machines don't care. So, we're playing off the same card but not literally doing that in case someone got confused.
     
  8. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    We have two separate accounts, but my wife's account is linked to mine. Which means if see wants to go off shopping and use points to pay and if she doesn't have enough points, they will dip into my account for the balance. Since we always only play on my card, she never has enough points for anything. :evillaugh
     
  9. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    Yes...my sister-in-law is linked to my mlife account. She lives at a different address. One of my Hosts said that her lower level of play could hurt my future comp offers, but I am still waiting to see if that happens. If it does i'm cutting her off pronto...lol. She also gets her own offers, but I am not sure if we are able to book our individual offers for the same dates. We did it once in the past, unknowing if it would create an issue...apparently it did, as the host ended up sending a welcome basket to her room, but was meant for my room.
     
  10. Julie888

    Julie888 VIP Whale

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    We're an example of a somewhat higher player and a medium level and we both have our own cards. We both get offers.

    With CET it definitely helps. We concentrate on one card for the day until the desired level is reached, usually 2500, then switch to the other player's card for the rest of the day. It's usually around 1000. Both qualify for bonus points. We didn't play like this until CET started offering the bonus points, because we both can make Diamond easily on our own. With my own proven record of play, if I travel on my own, I don't have a problem getting a room. I also have my own TR$ to spend. I also have my own offers, though few are used because his are better.

    It's a similar situation at Boyd properties. Once you're Sapphire, at least one of you earns extra points. Play on his card usually gets the meals taken care of. There really is no difference in the room offers, just the FP.

    For friends, you could concentrate one day on one player's card and the next on the other's. Do this to a level you are both comfortable. You don't want it to be a No Play day if the room is in your name.

    The problem that can arise is the taxes. If I get a hand pay while I'm playing on his card, it goes in my name and the 30% tax is withheld in my name. The Win/Loss statements at the end of year will show that win on his total. In theory, we should both be keeping track of the machines and the wins and losses ourselves. In reality, that doesn't happen. I know how much I have in my wallet at the end of each day. I don't know if Uncle Sam will accept that.
     
  11. Typically they will not allow this. Sometimes they let it slide. As we did it too. In our case they did because she had no perks other then the comp room. I had $1000 in FP and $750 a day in resort credit. Lady at check-in said if she were to have had FP one of our reservations would have been canceled. Host also sent the gift basket to the incorrect suite. Lol. My DH and I are separate but my SIL is linked to my account. DH use to be but he lowered my offers so got kicked off!!
     
  12. Corinne

    Corinne Low-Roller

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    Thanks for all your help everyone. Another question. We both played on my card last year and got diamond for one. Would she get a diamond card too if the cards are linked? If we both play and get say 1000 TR points between would the bonus 1000 points be credited or would it be seen as the individual cards, therefore making it better to play on one name still? Trying to get the most out of a 17 day trip when we will have a friend join us and won't be able to get three of us in to the diamond lounge on one card but if two of us have it then we are good to go. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
     
  13. Julie888

    Julie888 VIP Whale

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    CET doesn't link cards. At Seven Star, you can choose to have a Companion card for someone. They get benefits of a SS person, such as access to a DL. Any play on the card is counted as your own.

    CET may have you associated with someone, usually a spouse. They use this for for things like deciding on the type of room and number days they will comp you.
     
  14. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    This makes sense and its how I originally handled it with my gf, her gambling is next to nothing just penny slots at low limits and she views it more as a video game then gambling. But I realized that when she played on my card it barely added anything in comparison to what I earned. For instance her TCs were almost imperceptible. So I told her just to start using her own card and even though her play is so little she did start getting marketing offers that included things like free weekday nights. Its also useful because sometimes if we walk into a casino and I don't want to trigger a day on my card but feel like playing some VP and I will do it on hers. I did that at Wynn, only played for maybe an hour, and she started getting offers for free nights. We never used any of her comps but I like having them there as an option if we need an extra room or something. Basically, the marginal benefit of her play on my card is much smaller then it is on hers.
     
  15. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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    I think it depends on where you're playing and just how low "low" is. Even a penny slot player who plays around $1 per spin will rack up some pretty good comps on their own, if they're playing like 5-8 hours a day (360 spins per hour x 5 hours x $1.00 x .12 = $216 in theo per day). If the lower player can get over the threshold to warrant free rooms and/or extras, then it may make more sense to have separate cards, but then you start to fall under the category I described with two people who can get comps on their own vs. a strong and low player. It's different if you're playing 30 or 40 cents a spin for a couple hours a day.

    Of course there are all other kinds of things to consider depending on where you're playing that can make a small difference too. For instance the tier benefits you would receive if play on one card put you into a higher level, and things like the TC bonus at CET or the point multiplier at MGM for higher tiers, etc. Then apply it to your personal situation. Do you ALWAYS take trips together? Do you ever stay for more than a few nights or need to get extra rooms for friends? etc. etc. etc.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I think it depends on where you're playing and just how low "low" is. Even a penny slot player who plays around $1 per spin will rack up some pretty good comps on their own, if they're playing like 5-8 hours a day (360 spins per hour x 5 hours x $1.00 x .12 = $216 in theo per day). If the lower player can get over the threshold to warrant free rooms and/or extras, then it may make more sense to have separate cards, but then you start to fall under the category I described with two people who can get comps on their own vs. a strong and low player. It's different if you're playing 30 or 40 cents a spin for a couple hours a day.

    Of course there are all other kinds of things to consider depending on where you're playing that can make a small difference too. For instance the tier benefits you would receive if play on one card put you into a higher level, and things like the TC bonus at CET or the point multiplier at MGM for higher tiers, etc. Then apply it to your personal situation. Do you ALWAYS take trips together? Do you ever stay for more than a few nights or need to get extra rooms for friends? etc. etc. etc.
     
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