Nevada could be introducing cashless sports betting.
The Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) is set to conduct a public hearing on June 25 to consider the possibility of allowing gamblers to create and fund sportsbook accounts via their mobile phones, eliminating the need for a preliminary casino visit.
What would cashless betting mean?
The details of what the commission will discuss about cashless gaming are outlined in the meeting notice.
“…to remove the ban on electronic funds transfers from a financial institution to a game or gaming device; to introduce a new section that regulates electronic money transfers using a debit instrument to a game or gaming device; and to execute any further steps that may be needed to successfully accomplish these stated purposes.”
Should it be approved, sports bettors in Nevada will have the ability to establish a mobile sports betting account without the initial requirement of visiting a physical sportsbook.
Furthermore, they could benefit from more accessible methods to utilize sportsbooks and evade associated charges. Players of video poker, keno, and slots could also fund their games through casino apps, thus enjoying their preferred games.
Nevada mobile betting stuck in 2010
Since 2010, sports betting apps have been legal in Nevada.
Cantor Technology, now known as CG Technology, a mobile gaming operator, launched its initial race and sportsbook at the Tropicana. Presently, nearly all sportsbook operators in the Silver State provide an option for mobile sports betting.
In Nevada, sports bettors are required to visit a retail sportsbook within a casino in person to establish a mobile betting account and deposit money. Additionally, they must revisit the casino’s sportsbook to collect their winnings.
Play+ is an accessible mobile banking choice for bettors in Nevada, however, it does come with fees.
Numerous sportsbook operators and a lot of sports bettors have been keenly waiting for the NGC to authorize mobile account registration and funding options.
Regrettably, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has consistently declined in the past.
So, why change app registration now?
Nevada is losing influence in the sports betting industry due to insufficient mobile funding. Many states where gaming is legal, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, provide bettors with a range of mobile betting choices.
During the coronavirus pandemic, sports bettors in Nevada have had even less betting options.
In March, State Governor Steve Sisolak commanded all casinos to shut down. Due to limited sports activities, live betting options were scarce. During the closure of NV casinos, residents placed bets on table tennis and esports.
Only four mobile sportsbook apps were accessible to current Nevada account holders due to the closing of casinos which made it impossible to sign up for a sportsbook account. To solve this issue, some Nevada sportsbook operators provided curbside services to allow bettors to open and fund mobile sports betting accounts.
There are several compelling reasons to broaden the cashless experience.
Cashless gaming, for instance, enables casino gamblers to touch fewer surfaces.
Secondly, the ability to create a new sports betting account without needing to visit a Nevada casino should attract more individuals to bet on sports.
Finally, this will simplify betting on sports in the event of another shutdown of retail sportsbooks.
