Whether it be an annual pass for an amusement park or re-loadable player pass for arcade gaming, cards have become the durable vehicle that has replaced paper tickets and cash.  For the amusement park, the plastic card acts not only as the pass for entry, but also a discount card to be used for purchases within the park.  For gaming, the plastic card has become a very convenient alternative to cash for the following reasons:

• Ease of handling for the merchant
• Reduced employee theft
• Increased reliability at point of redemption
• Player convenience, especially for children