Sahara Las Vegas, the resort at the north end of the Strip, is now the first property on the Las Vegas Strip where customers can exchange cryptocurrency for casino chips or tickets, CDC Gaming Reports said Sunday, Nov. 1.
The system comes from BurraPay, a crypto payment company that deployed its platform at the Sahara in October. The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved the system earlier this year.
What we know
- Coins accepted: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin.
- How it’s used: players exchange crypto for chips or tickets to gamble on the casino floor.
- Safeguards: BurraPay describes the platform as anti-money-laundering compliant, with blockchain monitoring tools meant to flag problem-gambling behavior in real time.
- Not the first in Nevada: In June, BurraPay launched downtown with Circa Resort & Casino, which processed the state’s first legal crypto-funded sports bet.
- More casinos coming: The company said it is in talks with other Nevada casinos, with several expected to go live within weeks.
Sahara general manager Craig Pleva called crypto “a natural next step” for the resort’s payment options, according to CDC Gaming Reports.
What it means for locals and visitors
For crypto holders, the Sahara is now a Strip option for turning digital coins into gaming funds without first moving money through a bank. The report did not list fees, limits, ID steps or exactly where in the casino the exchange happens, so ask at the cage before you plan a trip around it. As with any gaming funds, set a budget before you play.
For drivers and anyone working the north Strip, the Sahara sits at Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, near the Strat and the Las Vegas Convention Center, which hosts the SEMA Show this week.
If gambling stops being fun, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-522-4700.