The Sahara resort has become the first property on the Las Vegas Strip to allow customers to exchange cryptocurrency for chips or tickets to use on the casino floor. The integration went live last month, with crypto payment options expected to expand across the Las Vegas casino market in the coming months.
BurraPay deployed its cryptocurrency payment platform at the property in October, after the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) approved its system earlier this year. The clearance allows the provider, which expects several other casinos to go live in the next few weeks, to operate within the state’s regulated gaming industry.
Crypto on the casino floor
The Sahara launch comes after BurraPay’s debut in June at Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas.
Through that partnership, BurraPay became the first compliant crypto payment provider to operate in Nevada, and it processed the state’s first legal cryptocurrency-funded sports bet.
“Our downtown launch made BurraPay the first compliant crypto payments provider to operate within Nevada’s regulated gaming market, and its success proved that players and operators are ready for a new way to pay,” said Luke Millanta, co-founder and CTO of BurraPay. “Bringing that experience to the Las Vegas Strip was the natural next step.”
Under the new setup, Sahara customers can fund their wagers throughout the property by depositing cryptocurrency, which they receive back in the form of casino chips or tickets.
“Expanding out payment options to include cryptocurrency is a natural next step, giving our guests greater flexibility and convenience while embracing innovation shaping the future of Las Vegas,” said Craig Pleva, Sahara general manager.
Two deployment options for operators
BurraPay offers casinos two solutions. The first is a fully embedded platform that integrates directly with casino player account management systems in land-based, iGaming, and online sportsbook environments. The second is an over-the-counter solution that the company developed for rapid deployment in land-based casinos.
According to the company, both solutions rely on BurraPay’s portfolio of patented technologies, which cover the secure, AML-compliant use of cryptocurrency in casino environments, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
The portfolio also includes blockchain monitoring tools that can detect problem gambling behaviors in real time.
Regulatory groundwork for 2027
BurraPay is also in talks with other Nevada casinos and plans to go live with several of them in the next few weeks.
On the company’s plans for 2027, Lauren Coombs said that because cryptocurrency remains new territory for the jurisdictions, “we are continuing to work deliberately with each jurisdiction and gaming commission to ensure that they feel comfortable with the platform.”
Coombs added that the company is also working with regulators to address all of their regulatory concerns. BurraPay currently holds approval or authorization for use in six states.
“We are currently in discussions with a number of tribal gaming commissions in addition to commercial casino jurisdictions,” she said.