Technological development has brought so much ease to our everyday lives. Initially, we had to carry physical cash wherever we go if we ever hope of getting anything. Subsequently, it was reduced to credit cards and we could travel cashless or “cash light”. Now, with digital wallets, we can as well decide to leave our credit cards at home as we move. This payment system is now widely used in Vegas such that most of its hotel-casino resorts allow their guests to utilize the likes of Samsung Pay, Android Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet to pay their bills excluding gambling bills.
The largest resort on the city’s famed Strip, MGM Resorts, now accepts digital payments at a majority of its points-of-sale at its 12 Vegas properties (though there are some limitations at Circus Circus). Over the past months, MGM has been making efforts to make its sales point compatible with digital wallets so that bills can be paid seamlessly as opposed to the use of cash or credit cards.
In addition to the popular digital payment system (Samsung Pay, Android Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet), WeChat Pay, a popular digital payment system in China was launched last week by Caesars Entertainment. With this, it definitely seeks to improve its presence in the U.S. Caesars has 11 resorts in Las Vegas and WeChat is the only digital wallet program available in all its resorts. WeChat technology is not different from the other digital wallet technology that we already know. It involves downloading the app, linking it with a bank account and to make payment, you will have to scan the unique QR code. Sixteen strategic locations at Caesars Palace got the handheld scanners and payment can be made for everything from a meal at the Bacchanal Buffet to tickets for shows. All transactions in Las Vegas are in U.S. dollars. Hundred of millions of people already make use of the WeChat payment platform to pay for everything from bicycle rentals to hospital expenses and the company intends to expand to other properties next year.
Claire Yang, Caesars’ director of international marketing, said in a phone interview from Beijing.
“This is the trend, I firmly believe that American customers will adopt digital payments in the future. It’s the way to go. Credit cards will become obsolete.”
The active user base of WeChat has hit the 600 million mark worldwide according to a Caesar news release. Although all sort of payments can be made using digital wallets, for gambling, all these resorts agree on one thing, you will still need cash. A limited number of shops within the Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes do welcome electronic wallet users but Wynn/Encore and the Venetian/Palazzo resorts don’t accept digital payments.
