Sahara Starts Crypto Gaming at Its Cashier

The 74-year-old Sahara, north of the Las Vegas Strip, has become the first casino to allow gaming with regulated cryptocurrency through its cashier service. Customers will be able to exchange Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin at the cashier for chips or casino tickets. The system was launched together with payment company BurraPay.

BurraPay had previously launched a similar system at Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas. According to the company, the launch this June was the first compliant crypto payment transaction in Nevada's regulated gaming market and facilitated the state's first legal crypto-supported sports bet. The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved the system this year.

Users must be at least 21 years old, have an active Infinity Rewards account and present a valid photo ID. A one-time identity verification will be completed before the first crypto deposit. This process will use a link sent by text or email and a selfie check. Deposits carry a 5 percent fee. The option is valid only for casino games and cannot be used for hotel rooms, restaurants or other resort expenses.

BurraPay says the system is designed to comply with anti-money laundering and gaming compliance requirements. The company also states that it can detect problematic gaming behavior in real time using blockchain monitoring tools. However, this claim is the company's own statement and has not been independently verified. BurraPay also said that talks with other Nevada casino operators are ongoing and that it expects more venues to join the system in the coming months.