Bitcoin To Make Las Vegas Debut

Bitcoin will make its Las Vegas debut tomorrow.

Forbes reported that on Wednesday the first Las Vegas casino will start allowing guests to use the digital currency in lieu of cash. The casinos are The D Las Vegas Casino Hotel and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino. They both have the same owners and are located off the Strip in Downtown, Las Vegas, home to an emerging technology scene.

Bitcoin will not be accepted on the gaming floor of the casinos, (at least not yet) but instead at five locations, which include hotel front desks and restaurants. The use of Bitcoin will be facilitated by tablets and mobile interfaces, according to Forbes.

It would of course require complete regulatory approval before ever being allowed in transactions related to brick-and-mortar gambling in the Silver State.

“I’m proud that the D and Golden Gate will be the first casino properties to accept Bitcoin,” Derek Stevens, co-owner of the casino-hotels said.

“We’re located in the growing high-tech sector of downtown Las Vegas, and like all things downtown, we’re quickly adaptive to new technology. The timing is right for us to launch this initiative, and I’m happy to be able to offer this to our customers.”

Prior to coming to Las Vegas, Bitcoin gained tremendous popularity around the world. The digital currency has even made its way into the online poker world. The most recent game developer to try its hand at Bitcoin was Zynga, though it’s not going to be available yet for its highly played poker application. Zynga is Facebook’s cash cow.

The currency has been controversial at times, though. Late last year, an online Bitcoin-fueled marketplace that sold drugs and other illegal goods was shut down by the feds. Its founder was also accused of trying to use Bitcoins to take out a hit on someone.

Another milestone for Bitcoin came last fall, when the world’s first Bitcoin ATM debuted in a Vancouver, Canada coffee shop. The machine converts Bitcoins into Canadian dollars.

The booming popularity of digital currency prompted lawmakers on Capitol Hill to hold their first ever hearing on the topic in November. In the meeting, there was testimony that reiterated the point that Bitcoin isn’t illegal, but it just carries potential risks. Some want more regulation.

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