Boyd Gaming Offering Cashless Gaming At Blue Chip Casino

Boyd Gaming Corporation has created a new digital wallet service with the help of Aristocrat Technologies. That places Boyd at the forefront of the cashless gaming movement that sprang to life in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boyd Gaming’s new digital wallet product is dubbed “BoydPay” and grants customers the “ability to create a cashless digital wallet that can be conveniently linked to third-party funding sources driven by Sightline Payments.”

According to the press release, BoydPay is up and running at the following Boyd casinos:

• Blue Chip Casino
• Belterra Park in Ohio
• Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa in Las Vegas (field trial)

BoydPay Explained

According to the press release, “the BoydPay digital wallet is linked to a player’s B Connected card (Boyd Gaming’s player loyalty program) and used to play or cash out on slot titles, also in partnership with Aristocrat.”

Boyd plans to rollout BoydPay at all of its US casinos by the summer if all goes as planned.  

The press release goes on to detail how the system might be fully digitized in the future:

“During future phases, and pending regulatory approval, Boyd Gaming will utilize Aristocrat technology to link the BoydPay wallet to its B Connected Mobile app, creating a contactless experience that will allow customers to use their smartphones to play and cash out on casino games and pay for amenities throughout the property.”

“BoydPay is all about enhancing the guest experience,” said Blake Rampmaier, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Boyd Gaming. “Through our innovative partnership with Aristocrat, we will create a unique and seamless payment experience for Boyd Gaming customers, allowing them to use their smartphones to play casino games, cash out, and pay for restaurant meals, show tickets, or hotel rooms.  By going cashless, our customers will be able to avoid the wait times and inconveniences associated with using cash and focus on enjoying their visit to our properties.”

“BoydPay is the latest product of our partnership with Boyd and the foundation of a memorable customer journey,” said Cath Burns, Executive Vice President of Customer Experience Solutions for Aristocrat. “We have the industry’s best people making the most innovative products that enhance the guest experience.”

The Cashless Gaming Revolution

Since assuming the role of President and CEO of the American Gaming Association in January 2019, Bill Miller has made cashless gaming a priority for the industry.

As Miller told me during an interview that appeared in the January 2020 issue of Gaming Law Review (paywall), cashless gaming is a long-overdue policy goal:

“For the life of me, I don’t understand how an industry that is as modern as the 21st-century gaming industry can offer guests first-in-class hospitality, restaurants, entertainment, spas, and all sorts of exciting opportunities, and yet if they walk onto the casino floor and they want to pay digitally in the same way that they’ve paid for every other part of their experience, it’s unwelcome.”

Miller’s quest received a boost during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID has forced the industry’s hand on the cashless gaming front, providing a small bright spot in a sea of tragic news.

Now we see contactless and cashless gaming go from showroom floors at trade shows to casino floors. In addition to Golden Entertainment has unveiled cashless gaming options, and IGT and Everi are both touting their cashless gaming products.