Las Vegas casinos warm up to Bitcoin payments for hotel stays

By Mike Flacy January 21, 2014

las vegas casinos warm bitcoin hotel stays — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Announced on the casino’s site earlier today, two Las Vegas casinos, The Golden Gate and The D, will start accepting Bitcoin tomorrow as payment for hotel rooms. Located off the strip at Las Vegas’ Fremont Street location, Bitcoin will be accepted at the front desk of the two hotels and The D’s gift shop.

It will also be accepted as payment at two restaurant locations within The D hotel, Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse and American Coney Island. Since the digital currency is accepted at the front desk of the hotel, it’s likely that guests will be able to pay for hotel services like room service and pay-per-view content utilizing Bitcoin at checkout.

According to details of the launch, all Bitcoin payments will be processed through a service called BitPay. Guests of the hotel will interact with tablets at the hotel’s front desk and other locations in order to pay for services using their Bitcoin wallets.

Bitcoin — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Utilized by many businesses and charities for a flat monthly fee or a transaction-based percentage fee, BitPay is slowly becoming the PayPal of Bitcoin payment processors. At the time of each transaction, Bitcoin is converted into U.S. currency for the two hotels.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that guests will be able to gamble with Bitcoin at the two casinos. It’s highly unlikely that the Nevada Gaming Control Board would approve the direct use of Bitcoin in the near future. Bitcoin would have to be converted to U.S. currency first before any gambling could occur and that transaction would likely have to be regulated.

However, this small step towards further acceptance of the Bitcoin currency could be a sign that more hotels will jump on the Bitcoin bandwagon. That being said, a smattering of small travel agencies have already started to accept Bitcoin as payment. In addition, online travel site Cheapair.com started accepting Bitcoin during November 2013 as payment when booking air travel.

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