OK, I'm at a loss. This may be basic information for everyone here but how does free play work? Say I sign up for a players card and they give me $20 in free play..........when does that start converting to real cash?
At CET in Vegas: What I have seen................you need to play through the free play ($20). Once you've done that, you can take out any winnings/remaining cash.
Use the keypad on the machine. I don't like the way the Mlife ones work, where you have to insert money and when you play it 'reimburses'. Not sure about the total rewards, if it does the same way. Other than having it just load onto credits from the freeplay option. If you have problems just hit your service light or stop an attendant, any of them should be able to help or explain it to you.
The way I have seen it done is you load the amount of freeplay on the machine you want to use it at. If you cash out, only your winnings will be printed on the ticket, freeplay will stay on the machine so make sure its all gone if you cash out quick. I have seen people cash out every time they hit a winning spin to ensure they walk with some free cash.
Freeplay at MLife properties does not have to be used solely on the machine you download/log it onto, you can remove your card to stop your session and the unused FP will be available to play at another machine. All winnings from FP are immediately credited to you and you can hit the cash out button to collect. MLife properties require you to cover the bet and then reimburse you after each spin so you will need to have enough cash in to cover your bet. When you are ready to leave hit cash out and your TITO will reflect starting balance and winnings from the FP.
My free play at NYNY had me thinking I was nuts, called over an attendant and she told me I had to insert some money with. Easy after that. As someone else has mentioned, once you've played through the free play the credit you have on the machine can be cashed out. Example, you have $20 in free play and you do 20 pulls on a one-line dollar slot machine, any credits left are yours to redeem. edit to add: The few times I've had free play they gave me printed instructions.
I think it all basically works the same. Every spin, whether you win or lose, you get the cost of the spin back, until your freeplay is out. I usually count my spins so I can cash out as soon as my freeplay is played through. That way I can move around machines as I please. From what I remember, MLIFe loads the amount on your card while TR will give you vouchers that you can put right in the machines. CET can split these up into 5's, 10's, etc so you don't have to use it all at once / one machine if you don't want. Once a voucher is in the machine, it must be used. Obviously using free play for chips works differently.
This is exactly what I do. I download it, when I win I cash out and play until the free play is gone.