A ticketing system and methods that encompass a plurality of entities, such as an event organizer, admission center, service providers and a visitor population, so as to automatically compile, issue, utilize and process ticketing cards for the admission to sporting events and other leisure & entertainment events. The portable, ticketing cards are realized by handheld devices, such as smart credit and/or debit card technology or pocket-size computers, and have the ability to store in the card a computerized ticket template. The cards can also store electronic credit points, or deduct from the card a monetary value or award points previously loaded into the card. Biometrics identification of cardholders, as well as cryptographic certification of card data and database information, can optionally be encoded into the cards, and can be verified and validated at various point-of-service locations upon presentation of the card for admission and for other services.