According to Sean Salce, the initial objectives for implementing cashless systems vary significantly among operators, from large resorts to slot machine routes.
“A universal solution doesn’t work for everyone,” stated Salce, U.S. East vice president of sales for Las Vegas-based Koin Payments. “The strategic priorities of a destination resort can differ from another property’s. Success hinges on grasping their distinct operational realities and the platform’s ability to adapt.”
Koin, which serves gaming operations of all sizes, has recently renamed its Koin Pay application to KoinLife. Through a MyKoin account, users can make secure payments at partnered gaming and retail venues. Salce noted that the rebrand highlights “the product’s scalability and how customers can use it across various interactions, encompassing both gaming and non-gaming activities, whether on or off the property.”
Digital payment services from Koin are already in use by operators in Nevada and California. New clients include Casino Pauma in San Diego County, Calif., employing it on the casino floor and in non-gaming areas, and Eclipse Route Operations, which owns multiple gaming properties and manages slot routes for several partners in Nevada. Salce added, “We are also expanding to larger destination properties in other states,” with announcements anticipated later this year.
Salce emphasized that operator expectations from a cashless technology provider can differ widely.
For instance, route operators are typically more focused on costs than those running full-scale casinos, he explained. Their payment system must be streamlined and integrate smoothly without disrupting operations. “It needs to be straightforward, user-friendly, and cost-effective. The sign-up and usage process for patrons must be easy. It has to be fast and agile.”
For casino operators, a key priority is demonstrating a tangible return on investment—such as how digital payments boost play duration and customer spending, while cutting costs associated with cash management. These operators also prioritize adherence to regulations and robust, enterprise-level data security.
The demand for more advanced features escalates with the operation’s scale. “Larger operators naturally offer more amenities, both for gaming and other purposes,” Salce said. “They are developing a greater focus on omnichannel engagement and leveraging the resulting data.” Cashless accounts allow for the aggregation of individual customer spending data across an operation, revealing preferences from favorite games to dining, bars, and entertainment choices. “This omnichannel engagement and data analysis opens a direct marketing pathway to that individual to encourage more visits,” he continued. In states with legal online sports betting or casino gaming, operators seek cashless technology that integrates these options into the digital wallet.
Salce described “modular deployments” of cashless gaming, which let operators manage the rollout speed across their facilities. Some, for example, introduce digital payments mainly to increase the cash available on the gaming floor. KoinDirect enables customers to move funds directly from a bank account to a slot or table game without needing an app or player’s card. Others prioritize cashless options for online sports betting or casino games before extending the technology to non-gaming or live gambling settings.
“Ultimately, it’s about understanding their immediate business requirements and having a flexible platform that can grow to meet those needs,” Salce concluded. He forecast that these initial successes will accelerate the gaming industry’s shift toward digital payments.