A patron registered with a player tracking system (loyalty program) of a casino can use an app on a mobile device to log into the player tracking system, receive a virtual player card PIN from the system, and enter the PIN at a gaming machine at the casino to begin player tracked game play with the use of a physical player tracking card. The patron can log into the player tracking system from any location that has cellular data network coverage or Internet access. Once at the casino, the patron retrieves the virtual player card PIN from the app and enters it using a service window interface on the gaming machine to begin game play that credits the patron's loyalty program account. This is done without having to insert a physical card into the card bezel at the machine.