Summary
- Cashless payments would make it easier for visitors to gamble and enjoy other amenities.
- Penn National already operates cashless gaming at venues in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
- The Commission wants to see cashless payments in action before giving final approval.
Penn National is ready to go cashless in its Charles Town casino. The operator is in charge of the Hollywood Casino and is hopeful that this venue will soon be able to offer cashless payment options.
Penn National already offers cashless options in several other states including Ohio and Michigan. The West Virginia Lottery Commission has agreed to allow the option to be installed but wants to see it in action before giving the green light.
Testing Process and Run-Through First
Officials may have been okay with Penn National installing the cashless payment tech, but they are not fully on board. The company must complete a testing phase, and this can take quite a few months to complete. The video lottery machines of the property will also need to be modified and that takes time too.
Some officials are unsure as to how the technology will work and if it is something that players will be on board with. State Lottery Commission Chairman, Ken Greear, stated that the Commission wants to be sure that it’s the right move before full approval is provided.
Greear stated that it’s important that the cashless payment option will not interfere with gameplay or make the enjoyment more cumbersome than it should be. It should also be checked to ensure that it works well with no issues.
Scott Saunders, the General Manager and VP of Hollywood Casino, stated that he thinks the digital wallet and platform is something that many businesses are implementing. The casino wants to make sure that it is continually moving forward.
Making the Move with Tech
Many casinos and other businesses started making the move to cashless back when the COVID-19 pandemic first began to lower the need to handle cash. Players at casinos seemed to feel more at ease utilizing the cashless options rather than needing to use cash. Many Las Vegas casinos were among the first to make the change.
It is also important to note that younger generations are used to cashless methods of payment. The younger demographic often use PayPal and Venmo to complete transactions. Digital wallets are an easy way to store and use cash, be it for shopping, dining, or entertainment.
For casinos to stay with modern times, they will need to adapt. It seems that cashless payments are just one way that gaming venues are staying in line with consumer trends. If Hollywood Casino can implement the option it will be one of, if not the only casino in this region of the United States that offers such payment methods.
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