How casinos track players. Participants in the loyalty program will swipe casino membership cards at tables and machines instead of wagering with tickets, coins, and bills. Since the card contains an identifier, it notifies the casino host of your location and how much you are betting, winning, or losing.
The truth is, yes casinos can control a slot machine or rig it only to give players small wins. Some casinos work with developers to create exclusive games. This gives them even more access to a game's code and RNG.