No cash, no cards, no problem. Cashless gaming is becoming increasingly popular in casinos across the country and Pennsylvania players now have that option as well.
One of the leaders in the push toward cashless gambling options has been PA-based Penn National, which recently rebranded to Penn Entertainment.
Through the mychoice app provided by Penn’s Hollywood Casinos (which have four PA locations), players can not only go cashless, but can also acquire a bonus for embracing the new technology.
Players who have already downloaded Hollywood Casino’s mychoice rewards app can get $25 more by establishing a mywallet account (see app details for current promos).
Hollywood Casino MyWallet: No cards, no cash, and no fees either
The mywallet feature lets players avoid the need for any cash or card on the casino floor. And there is no fee required, either.
Players can buy chips, cash out from a table game, and move money in or out of their mywallet account directly to a bank account. There is also an option for players to set up mobile or email balance alerts for their accounts.
To set up your own mywallet, follow the corresponding steps:
- Download (or open) the mychoice rewards app and log in with your mychoice account number. If you also have the Barstool Sports app, you can find the account number there.
- Connect to a game with mychoice using the app.
- Establish a mywallet account by entering the required information.
- Make your first deposit and begin gaming.
Promotions may also be available for completing the previous steps.
Penn Entertainment leading cashless gaming charge
Many Hollywood Casino players have already reaped the rewards. Penn Entertainment reported in their Q2 investor presentation more than 1.1 million mychoice app downloads and 70,000 total mywallet customers through Q2 2022.
“Our 3C’s (cashless, cardless and contactless) technology is rapidly gaining adoption while delivering strong results,” the presentation reads.
Penn has been a major proponent of keeping pace with modern technology to appeal to its younger demographic. It’s also part of its long-touted omni-channel approach.
Penn’s CEO Jay Snowden said during the Q2 earnings call:
“Guests that use our mobile wallet and who engage with us via online offerings are not only more loyal, but they also play at a higher spend level when visiting a property and generate a higher total value in engaging with us across multiple channels.”
The cashless gap has closed considerably in the past year. Last year, Hollywood Casinos in Ohio and Pennsylvania adopted cashless gaming. Hollywood Casino in Detroit followed suit in May.
Penn offers cashless gaming at nine casinos across three states, with 12 more planned by the end of the year. Players who prefer traditional gaming will still have that option. But the move toward cashless operations will be a growing trend.
How does cashless gaming affect responsible gambling?
Questions around responsible gaming sometimes accompany the shift toward cashless gaming. Some observers worry that cashless gaming is so efficient that it doesn’t provide enough break time for players when they reload funds to consider their spending or gaming limits.
However, proponents of cashless gaming will point to the fact that it keeps such a detailed record of transactions that it actually makes it easier for companies and players to identify and track problem behaviors. Meanwhile, cash-based gaming is much more anonymous.
Liz Lanza, Director of the PGCB’s Office of Compulsive & Problem Gambling, previously told PlayPennsylvania she was cautious about cashless gaming at first, but has grown much more comfortable with it thanks to safeguards, which can include limits on the time, amount, and frequency of gaming and deposits.
As cashless gaming continues to expand in popularity, it’s also likely the responsible gambling safeguards will evolve along with them.
Lead image via Shutterstock.