Player tracking and identification system

A system and method is set forth for tracking the play of players playing gaming devices such as slot machines through passive identification of the players. Passive identification can be achieved by analysis of a player, such as facial image photography, infrared scan, scans of a player's iris or other features of the eye, and the like. Players provide identification information and physical recognition data is acquired as by a digital or video camera. For each player an account file and a file of the image data is stored. When the player plays the slot machine, a camera scans the player and acquires image data which is compared to stored data to identify the player. The identified player's account file is opened and data from the device representing parameters of play, e.g. amounts wagered, is allocated to the identified player's account file for the purpose of providing comps and other benefits to the player. Doe image data and account files can be stored to allocate parameters for unidentified players. Further the device acquired image data can be compared with stored image data to identify undesirables such as slot cheats or the like.