The coronavirus pandemic changed the casino experience in a variety of ways. One change is that casino operators have pushed up their timelines for different initiatives. Some of these changes are reaching casinos and hotels quicker than anticipated.
New experiences were already making their way to the casino floor. The process of bringing new technology to casino floors usually takes a while. The coronavirus pandemic forced a lot of digital innovation to be implemented quickly.
Cashless gaming technology has been available for a few years. The coronavirus pandemic is forcing casino operators to quickly offer more technological conveniences like cashless gaming.
The casino operators are using new technology to help create fewer touchpoints in a casino. This year we’ll likely be a metamorphosis of casino technology.
More and more casinos are hopping on the trend of cashless gaming. This innovation is available for slot machines as well as table games. In five years there may not be a need to use cash when gambling.
Cashless gaming won’t appeal to all gamblers. It’s easy to see the appeal of cashless gaming for people playing machines. Video Poker and slot machines resemble ATMs where people are already used to get money in a casino.
It might take more time to convert table game players to going cashless. There are some blackjack players who prefer to remain anonymous. Using an app or debit card solution to get cash at the table won’t be appealing to these players.
Recreational blackjack players who already buy coffee, groceries, etc. shouldn’t have much of an issue with using cashless technology at the table. In fact, cashless gaming might be preferred by younger blackjack players.
PlayOn At The Blackjack Table
PlayOn by ACS is a cashless gaming solution available at casinos around the country. Here are a few casinos you’ll find this cashless system for table games:
- Atlantis
- Circa
- The D
- Palace Station
- Red Rock Casino
- Redhawk Casino
- San Manuel Casino
- The Strat
- Thunder Valley Casino
There are different types of cashless gaming technology available. PlayOn is a point-of-service debit card solution. We point to this option because players can use this now.
Using PlayOn is as simple as you’d imagine an ATM-like system would be like:
- Ask the dealer to use the machine.
- Swipe debit card and choose the amount of money you’d like.
- Once approved the dealer will slide chips to you.
- Snag the receipt/voucher from the machine.
The blackjack game doesn’t have to stop as the process only takes a few seconds. The dealer will treat the voucher as a standard cash buy-in. This actually speeds up the buy-in process as the dealer won’t have to count the cash handed to them.
While this service is convenient it comes with a cost. Fees may vary at casinos. For example, a casino will charge a flat fee plus the transaction fee. For example, Circa and The D in Las Vegas charge a $4 flat fee plus 2.5% fee per transaction. This could be more or less than an ATM fee depending on the amount of money a player takes out.
Get Ready For More Cashless Options
A number of gaming manufacturers have been working on cashless gaming options for a few years. Look to see this available in more casinos. Two of the largest casino game makers – Scientific and IGT – recently announced a cross-licensing agreement for their cashless gaming technology.
These two companies have many slot and video poker machines in casinos today. Scientific also has a number of table games in casinos. This agreement could create a spike in the number of casinos using cashless technology.
