TLDR
- Sahara is now the first casino on the Las Vegas Strip to let players exchange cryptocurrency for chips or tickets.
- Payments company BurraPay deployed the system at the resort last month.
- Players can use Bitcoin, Ethereum or Litecoin to fund their play.
- The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved BurraPay’s system earlier this year.
- BurraPay says it is approved or authorized in six US states and is in talks with tribal gaming commissions.
Sahara Las Vegas has become the first casino on the Las Vegas Strip to let players exchange cryptocurrency for gaming chips or tickets. The news was reported by CDC Gaming.
The system was set up at the resort last month by BurraPay, a crypto payments company. It gives players a new way to fund their play on the casino floor.
Three cryptocurrencies are supported at launch. Guests can use Bitcoin, Ethereum or Litecoin to buy chips or tickets.
Chips are used at table games such as blackjack and roulette. Tickets are paper vouchers that players can load into slot machines.
Before this launch, no casino on the Strip offered a way to turn crypto directly into chips or tickets. Sahara is located at the north end of the Strip.
Nevada Regulators Approve BurraPay’s System
The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved BurraPay’s system earlier this year. The board oversees casinos and gaming companies across the state.
That approval cleared the way for the system to be used at Nevada casinos. Sahara is the first Strip property to put it into use.
BurraPay says it is still working with regulators to address their concerns. The report did not give details on what those concerns are.
The company has gained approval outside Nevada as well. A BurraPay spokeswoman said the company is approved or authorized in six US states.
The report did not name the other states. It also did not say whether casinos in those states are using the system yet.
Talks With Tribal Gaming Commissions
BurraPay says it is in talks with tribal gaming commissions. These commissions regulate casinos that operate on tribal lands.
Tribal casinos follow rules set by their own gaming regulators. Any use of BurraPay’s system at those casinos would need their approval.
No timeline was given for when those talks might end. BurraPay has not said which tribal commissions it is speaking with.
For players at Sahara, the system is already live. They can now bring crypto to the casino and leave the cashier with chips or slot tickets.
The service adds to the payment options players already have, such as cash and cards. The report did not include details on fees or limits for crypto transactions.
What Comes Next for BurraPay
BurraPay is expected to bring its system to more Nevada casinos. The company has not named which properties will be next.
For now, Sahara remains the only Strip casino offering the service. BurraPay’s talks with tribal gaming commissions are ongoing.
