As attendees flocked to the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas for the 2026 edition of G2E on Monday morning, a dynamic panel discussion unfolded, focusing on the future of cryptocurrency in regulated gaming, a sector still grappling with uncertainty. The session was moderated by industry consultant Jonathan Michaels and featured three experts from different facets of gaming and finance: Earle Hall, CEO of AXES; Rich Winley, CEO of Payline; and Lindsay Slader, chief growth officer of UBank.
The panel convened shortly after the US Senate declined to move forward with the CLARITY Act, a pivotal proposed federal legislation aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency. While this decision was seen positively by some in the industry, especially those involved with the prediction market sector, it is important to note that another legislative measure, the GENIUS Act, was enacted in July 2025, providing some regulatory structure, particularly for stablecoins — cryptocurrencies that are pegged to stable assets like the US dollar.
The conversation highlighted a significant challenge: varying attitudes toward cryptocurrency across different jurisdictions, with overall adoption rates still low. While the CLARITY Act would have enhanced clarity for digital assets, the GENIUS Act did establish guidelines for stablecoins, addressing some regulatory gaps.
When questioned about the necessity of federal legislation similar to the CLARITY Act for achieving optimal integration of crypto in gaming, the panelists expressed that significant advancements could still be made independently of federal influence. "I feel like we have all these tools in our toolbelt where we could really spin it up quickly if we wanted to, regardless of what's happening in the federal government," Slader stated.
A recurring theme during the discussion involved the industry's cautious approach to adopting cryptocurrency, despite its historical reliance on cash transactions and traditional banking methods. The Las Vegas casino industry has faced numerous multimillion-dollar fines for anti-money laundering violations since the beginning of 2025, with the Venetian, the G2E host, incurring a $7.2 million fine. This experience has underscored the complexities of cash management and transaction oversight in casinos.
Hall illustrated that casino chips function similarly to stablecoins, as they are traded for fixed values, tracked by issuers, and backed by cash. He emphasized that the secure technology behind stablecoins could facilitate faster and more cost-effective money movement for a cash-heavy industry.
Moreover, achieving a seamless user experience was deemed critical. Winley from Payline lamented the stagnation in transaction processing speeds in the gaming industry, which has remained unchanged for decades. He asserted that as cryptocurrency payment interfaces evolve to resemble traditional banking products, user adoption is expected to improve.
A recent study commissioned by the American Gaming Association revealed a correlation between gambling and higher financial literacy. The research indicated that gamblers exhibited greater financial literacy rates than non-gamblers, with 41% of gamblers considered 'highly financially literate' compared to 27% of non-gamblers. This suggests a favorable reception among bettors for the integration of cryptocurrency payment options, provided that regulatory measures evolve in line with growing demand.
Additionally, a separate Paysafe report from June indicated that the rate of cryptocurrency usage among online sports bettors was more than double the national average, predicting that crypto could emerge as one of the top deposit methods in major markets such as New York and Illinois.
Slader also addressed the perception of the gaming industry among financial institutions, noting that gaming has historically been viewed unfavorably. Despite this, she believes merging the gaming and cryptocurrency sectors within a well-regulated framework is feasible. "I think we do need to help gaming regulators understand this entire system and help them become comfortable with what this ecosystem that the player's going to be in still looks like," she commented, underscoring the continued presence of consumer protections such as Know Your Customer procedures and responsible gaming measures throughout the user experience.
