20 September 2026
Nevada gaming regulators have taken their most significant steps yet in expanding cashless wagering across the state. The Nevada Gaming Commission has given final approval to allow patrons to set up their cashless wagering accounts remotely before arriving at a casino. The changes, first proposed by Las Vegas payments company Sightline last year, won unanimous backing from the Gaming Commission this month.
The regulatory changes, outlined in a new Rule 14.010, allow casino patrons to use an app to input their details, fund an account, and complete ID verification anywhere before heading to a casino. They must still present a government-issued ID when they arrive. But as Nevada Gaming Board chair Kwonam Kim told the Commission earlier this year, the pending cashless changes mean "a guest will be able to register all the details of their gaming account from their smartphone." The rule affects only cashless wagering in casinos, not the separate system for mobile sports betting, which still requires an in-person trip to a retail sportsbook.
The expansion of cashless gaming is the culmination of several regulatory moves starting back in 2020. That year, Nevada first allowed cashless wagering to be used on slot machines and video poker. The move was aimed at speeding up player access and shortening wait times at casinos as the industry reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Commission have been gradually extending the scope of cashless wagering. Last fall, they approved a process for remote ID verification, so patrons no longer had to be physically present at a casino for that step. At the same time, a Board staff report said that the move would "not impact the lawful and appropriate oversight of gaming-related kiosks".
The regulators are also moving to loosen up the potential use of wagering accounts. A recent update to Regulation 5.225, the cornerstone rule defining "wagering account", now permits those accounts to be used more broadly. Non-restricted casinos, which account for the vast majority of Las Vegas Strip properties, can let players use their account funds at other licensed establishments in the state - from hotels to restaurants.
Some details are still being ironed out. Non-restricted casinos need to go through an approval process with the Gaming Control Board and abide by technical standards before rolling out any new cashless features. They'll also need to ensure their technology can update the Gaming Board's system to show change balances and transactions in real-time.
Defining those standards has been a multi-step process. As Nevada Gaming Chief Executive Andrea Kovarik told a trade conference in August, the regulators are in "very active dialogue" with industry stakeholders, with "a record number" of technical review sessions so far this year. An update earlier this month changed how cashless wagering records are reported by the casinos.
Indeed, even with the new expanded rule approved, and more changes under review, Nevada's cashless gaming still stands out for its rigorous regulation. Unlike other states, where cashless wagering has often been introduced with a loosening of oversight and controls, Nevada insists its strict 100% paper trail record, a hallmark of its 83-year-old Nevada gaming system, will still apply.