Point of play registration on a gaming machine

A method of registering a player to a loyalty program using a gaming device:

• receiving loyalty program information on the gaming device;
• receiving instrument information stored on an instrument on the gaming device wherein the instrument is not associated with a loyalty program account in the loyalty program and wherein the instrument information identifies the instrument;
• sending a registration request message with the loyalty program information and the instrument information from the gaming device to a loyalty program server;
• wherein the loyalty program information and instrument information is for registering the player in the loyalty program and wherein a successful registration enrolls the player in the loyalty program by generating a new loyalty program account and wherein, after completing the registration of the player in the loyalty program, the instrument becomes a loyalty program instrument operable for initiating a loyalty program session that uses the new loyalty program account during subsequent game play.

A method of registering a player to a loyalty program in a loyalty program server, the method comprising:

• receiving a registration request message including loyalty program information and instrument information from a gaming machine wherein the instrument information is from an instrument not associated with a loyalty program account in the loyalty program and wherein the instrument information identifies the instrument;
• generating a new loyalty program account using the loyalty program information and the instrument information that allows the instrument to become a loyalty program instrument operable for initiating a loyalty program session that uses the new loyalty program account during subsequent game play;
• and
• sending a registration reply message to the gaming machine wherein the registration reply message comprises information for allowing a loyalty program session to begin on the gaming machine using the new loyalty program account.