Will Cashless Casinos Become the Standard of the Future?

A casino in Nevada has launched the first cashless machines that allow players to deposit money directly into slot machines from their phones. The deposit takes only a few seconds. This innovation has sparked a new debate about whether cash could gradually fade into the background in casinos.

Crystal Bay Casino, at the other end of the state, installed RAPIDPLAY machines in Nevada for the first time in October 2026. The machines were announced in 2024, but the manufacturer has only now officially confirmed the first installations. The casino will celebrate its 90th anniversary next year. The venue features blackjack, craps and roulette tables, along with more than 180 slot machines. The newly added machines do not accept cash. William Hill's sports betting outlet is also located in the venue.

Jeff Allen, product manager at Light and Wonder, described the device as "an ATM in a slot machine." According to him, instead of going to an ATM to withdraw money and feed it into a machine, the player can handle everything at the point of play. The technology is supported by Koin Payments, a company known for bank-based deposits. The player scans the QR code on the machine and transfers the money directly to the slot.

A similar application was tested earlier this year at Station Casinos. At machines installed at Durango Casino and Resort, Wildfire Anthem and Seventy Six Taverns, the Adostics TrustedTap system was used, and it was possible to load balances with Apple Pay enabled devices. The growing preference for contactless payment at many venues may support this trend. However, it is not yet clear whether this practice will spread across the Strip.