I can't find the message, but someone who said he was a newbie asked how I know exactly how many hands I've played. I'm sorry I didn't get back quicker, but there was some technical difficulty, some holidays, etc.
I carry a small notebook. Every time I play I record the following:
Casino, machine number, exact game (e.g. $1 10x 9-6 Jacks), start time, money in, start points, end time, money out, end points. There are a few nuances, but I record this info for every session I play. When I get home, I transfer that info to a spreadsheet.
At every casino, I know how many dollars coin in earns one point, therefore, I determine my coin in from the points. Since I know the game, I know how much coin in is produced by each hand (# coins x denomination). Divide that out to get how many hands you played.
