Missouri casinos: comp card REQUIRED!?!

[gbesq]

I had an interesting experience at a casino in Missouri. I'm normally an East coast player (CT and NJ) but was driving out to Kansas last week to deliver my daughter's car to her at college. As I was driving down I-70 in Missouri, I saw signs for the Isle of Capri casino in Boonville (no, I'm not kidding), so I decided to stop by and take a look around. To enter the gaming area, I had to first go to a desk staffed by security (this is the only way to get into the gaming area) where I was advised that a comp card is required under Missouri law in order to play. So I did as I was told, got my comp card, went back to the security checkpoint and entered the gaming area. When buying in at the blackjack table (and I assume at all other table games), the dealer requests your drivers license and comp card. After verifying your identity (there is a computer right at the table that the dealer runs your card through), you may buy in, but only to a maximum of $500 every two hours (also Missouri law, according to the dealer). Long story short, I picked up $210 in just a little over an hour of play (6 deck game with some of the best penetration I've seen anywhere and no heat with my 1-8 spread), but it seems to me that you could get backed off or barred awfully fast with casino record keeping that's as meticulous as this. Anybody else ever have this experience playing in Missouri?

[suicyco maniac]

Yes that is the state law in MO. Pretty stupid.

[techster]

Missouri state law prohibits casinos from banning players. They can reshuffle, change the penetration, up the minimum bets, or anything else to discourage the AP, but they can't ban them.

[EasyRhino]

yep, it seems similar to Jersey law.

The cards are to handle both the loss-throttling, and also enforce self-exclusion gambler anonymous stuff.

I've only played in MO at low stakes, but I can imagine how the limits would be a nightmare at higher levels. Hell, I've lost more than $500 on single hands. You've just to to buy in for chips every 2 hours, whether you need them or not. hell, whether you're gambling or not. And if you're with friends, have them buy in with your money as well.

The most amusing way to start a riot among the staff is to start passing chips back and forth with another player. They really don't like that.