- Digital-exclusive Currency Environments Digital wallets (such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and casino-specific apps) streamline everything from slot play to food and beverage purchases, reducing physical cash and chips. Their popularity is becoming more seamless in everyday life, stretching to restaurants and mobile vendors becoming cashless. Crypto continues to grow, despite their volatility in a traditional market. While there’s no full-scale, regulated crypto gambling, we see resorts already accept Bitcoin and Ethereum for non-gaming purchases like hotel rooms and dining. Behind the scenes, casinos are exploring blockchain technology for improved security, faster settlements, and transparency in high-value transactions. “[Secure digital wallet payments] is especially crucial for the growth of intelligent digital table gaming and ETGs,” Mark Fancourt said. “I expect to see more widespread, regulated adoption of cryptocurrency for deposits, withdrawals, and potentially even direct wagering, particularly for younger demographics comfortable with these technologies.”
- AI Integrations across Platforms. It’s no secret AI is sweeping every industry around the globe. Automation and personalization increases the white-glove service that guests see and experience while on property. It streamlines guest requests and can inform on the data-driven insights to help property operators work most efficiently. “AI is a game changer when it comes to creating efficiencies and driving service in large-scale casino hotels,” said Shannon McCallum Resort World vice president of hotel operations. “The ability to consume large amounts of data to drive personalization of services and to send return offers to our guests that speak to their preferences is invaluable. It makes marketing more effective to our casino and cash guests when it speaks to their interests at the property.” AI will support more adaptive and intelligent game design, tailoring difficulty levels or in-game experiences to individual users. AI will be central to that transformation, powering smarter decision-making, more immersive experiences, and increasingly personalized environments that cater to a new generation of digital-first players. We can expect an increase of AI in both online and land-based gaming, personalizing the gaming experience and enhancing the interactions they have online or at the casino.
- Social Casinos and Gamification Expansion in Casinos Social casinos and gamification are changing how people engage with casino gaming. These free-to-play games mirror real gambling but focus on fun, rewards and social interaction. Casinos are now using similar strategies, from badges, challenges, and leaderboards in their loyalty apps and on the gaming floor to keep players engaged. You’ll even see live tournaments and interactive zones that blend gaming with social experiences. It’s all about turning play into something more dynamic and rewarding, especially for younger audiences who crave interaction, goals and a sense of community while they game. “I am seeing a great deal of effort from the gaming technology companies to make them more similar to the video gaming experience to drive the appeal on the gaming floor,” McCallum said. “These new games are expected to be more approachable for the first-time or newer player who may be intimidated by their lack of experience at the gaming table.”
- Personalized Experiences for Each Customer Journey Casino and hotel properties are increasingly using technology to deliver highly personalized experiences for guests. From pre-arrival check-ins, AI-driven room preferences and custom entertainment or dining recommendations, resorts are learning guests’ habits to create tailored stays through data analytics. Loyalty apps can track spending, preferences and gameplay to offer real-time rewards or available upgrades, leaving the guest returning to increase frequent stays and potential offers. Even check-ins, lighting and music in hotel rooms can adjust to a guest’s past choices. This level of personalization enhances the guest experience and builds loyalty, helping properties stand out in a competitive market where every detail matters. “The younger generation wants digital touchpoints and a lot of self-services,” Station Casinos CIO CJ Foster said. “Younger people want to talk to technology. They want to go onto their phones and sign up for a rewards card, not wait in line at the rewards center. If they have a problem, they want to ask a chatbot, ‘Hey, I have this problem, how can I solve it on my own?’"
- Metaverse Gameplay It’s not just Hollywood experimenting with metaverse timelines. We predict an increase in metaverse gameplay, expanding on a virtual experience with a traditional gameplay. Virtual reality gaming has already entered the market and metaverse gameplay will only extend it, allowing guests to play within an immersive experience which directly speaks to younger markets. We’ll continue to see layered online and physical gameplay convergence within the next few years. Fancourt said, “They're notably not generally inclined toward extensive in-person communication and social experiences in the traditional sense. This could involve virtual casinos where players interact with each other as avatars, NFT-based in-game assets, or blockchain-verified fair play." “More than 70% of Gen Z teen gamers find playing video games helps them stay connected to others, and roughly half of them use games just to socialize without actively playing,” Fancourt said. As we see the influx of digital natives enter the Las Vegas market, the traditional casino won’t look or feel like it does today. The hospitality industry is moving into a new era, full of digital wallets, gamification and immersive metaverse experiences blurring lines of digital and physical play. All of this elevates the guest experience, bringing more engagement, personalization and ultimately, loyalty. In an increasingly competitive market, it’s the little things that make a huge difference.
Fall 2025
view the digital EDITION5 Technology Trends for Gaming Hospitality
by
Hospitality Upgrade Staff
Oct 22, 2025
Gaming Tech Section
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As we watch the world lean into the use of artificial intelligence and automated systems everywhere, hospitality technology isn’t just innovating on the business side —we’re seeing it integrate further into the guest experience. From cashless payments to AI-powered personalization, the industry is quickly adapting to the expectations of digital-first guests who want convenience, security and entertainment that personally tailors to them. From paying for dinner with your phone or stepping into a VR-powered metaverse, casinos are redefining the hospitality experience by blending innovation with tradition.
Mark Fancourt is the founder and principal consultant for TRAVHOTECH, technology consultants for the modern hospitality and travel world.
