Patent ID: 8079904

Claim:
A player tracking card adapted for use in a wager-based gaming system, said player tracking card comprising: a storage component adapted to store data regarding a player to which said player tracking card is assigned; a first communication component adapted for communications with an associated gaming machine or terminal using a first mode of communication, wherein said first communication component is configured to interact with an input display panel on a gaming machine or terminal and further configured to facilitate processing of cashless transactions and accounting associated with said wager-based gaming system, and configured to allow a player to access remote player accounts; and a second communication component adapted for communications with said associated gaming machine or terminal using a second mode of communication, said second mode of communication being separate and distinct from said first mode of communication, wherein said second communication component is tied to a messaging system and includes a speaker, a light, or both, situated on the player tracking card itself, such that a player may receive messages through the player tracking card.