SAHARA Las Vegas has introduced cryptocurrency payments through BurraPay, allowing casino guests to exchange Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin for gaming chips or tickets at the casino cage.
Announced on October 14, 2026, the launch makes SAHARA the first Las Vegas Strip casino to announce regulated cryptocurrency-funded gaming transactions through its cashier.
The development follows BurraPay’s June launch at Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, where the company facilitated what it described as Nevada’s first legal cryptocurrency-funded sports wager.
The new service lets eligible guests fund casino play with cryptocurrency without directly wagering digital assets at gaming tables or slot machines.
Instead, customers visit SAHARA’s casino cage, deposit supported cryptocurrency and receive traditional casino chips or gaming tickets.
The service currently supports Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Litecoin (LTC).
According to published instructions, players must be at least 21 years old, hold an active Infinity Rewards account and complete identity verification before making their first cryptocurrency deposit.
The casino cage processes transactions 24 hours a day.
BurraPay charges a 5% service fee on cryptocurrency deposits. For example, a $1,000 deposit would incur a $50 fee.
Players have 15 minutes to complete a cryptocurrency transfer at the quoted exchange rate.
Casino wagers and winnings remain denominated in US dollars. The service does not currently cover hotel bookings, restaurants or other non-gaming purchases at the resort.
These conditions distinguish the offering from offshore crypto casinos, where players may deposit, wager and withdraw directly in cryptocurrency.
BurraPay entered Nevada’s regulated casino market in June 2026 through a partnership with Circa Resort & Casino.
The company said its system processed the state’s first legal cryptocurrency-funded sports wager at the property.
According to NEXT.io, the launch involved social media personality Bryce Hall depositing $350,000 through BurraPay before placing sports wagers.
BurraPay co-founder and chief technology officer Luke Millanta described the Circa launch as evidence of demand for cryptocurrency payment options in regulated gambling venues.
The company subsequently expanded to SAHARA, a Meruelo Group-owned resort on the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip.
SAHARA general manager Craig Pleva said the partnership would give guests additional payment flexibility while allowing the casino to introduce cryptocurrency through a regulated system.
The resort operates a 60,000-square-foot casino with more than 650 slot machines, over 30 table games and a William Hill sportsbook.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved BurraPay’s system earlier in 2026, allowing the company to introduce its payment technology within the state’s regulated gaming industry.
BurraPay offers two deployment models.
Its over-the-counter solution allows land-based casinos to process cryptocurrency payments through cashier operations.
A separate embedded system is designed to integrate with player account management platforms used by casinos, online sportsbooks and iGaming operators.
The company says both systems incorporate anti-money laundering controls and blockchain transaction monitoring.
BurraPay also claims its monitoring technology can identify potential indicators of problem gambling activity in real time. However, the available public information does not establish how effectively these tools detect such behavior in practice.
The identity verification requirements at SAHARA demonstrate that cryptocurrency payments in regulated casinos do not necessarily offer the anonymity associated with some offshore gambling platforms.
Following the SAHARA launch, BurraPay confirmed that it was discussing additional deployments with Nevada casino operators.
Company spokeswoman Lauren Coombs told CDC Gaming that several properties could introduce the system in the coming weeks.
She also said BurraPay was approved or authorized for use in six US states and was engaging with tribal gaming commissions alongside commercial casino regulators.
The company is pursuing additional deployments in 2027, although the timing will depend on regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction.
BurraPay has also partnered with Walker Digital Table Systems to explore cryptocurrency payment integration with casino table management technology.
That project remains subject to applicable regulatory approvals and is separate from the cashier-based service currently available at SAHARA.
BurraPay’s expansion suggests that cryptocurrency could become another funding option for players at regulated US casinos.
Its approach lets customers use digital assets while keeping casino wagers and payouts in traditional currency.
That distinction could make cryptocurrency payments easier to accommodate within existing gaming regulations than systems that allow direct cryptocurrency wagering.
However, the 5% service fee may discourage some players, particularly those who already have access to cheaper payment methods.
Identity checks and conversion requirements could also limit the appeal for customers seeking the convenience or privacy associated with direct crypto gambling.
For casino operators, the potential benefit is access to customers who hold cryptocurrency but prefer playing at licensed land-based venues.
Whether the service gains widespread adoption will likely depend on transaction costs, customer demand and regulatory approval.
For now, SAHARA’s launch represents another example of cryptocurrency payment technology entering the regulated US casino industry, rather than a shift toward direct crypto gambling on the Las Vegas Strip.
Vladimir is a senior iGaming writer and editor, adept at breaking down the key details of crypto casinos and sportsbooks so players don’t have to, delivering honest, player-focused information that actually matters.
