The pandemic has sparked the need for more secure, mobile-based gambling options to meet the new expectations of gambling customers, but this does not necessarily have to be tied to online gambling.

Customers have become accustomed to cashless and contactless methods, so the ENTIRE industry must prepare for this new way of playing. Operators are more willing to offer contactless and cashless solutions to meet changing customer needs.

Casino operators should leverage the necessary tools to meet consumer demand and ensure that customers enjoy convenient and flexible gambling options to enhance their experience. This would undoubtedly give casinos a competitive edge over the ground gained by the online casino.

The first step is to revolve the understanding of the accelerated adoption of the cashless system.

Today's gambling customers live in a digital world. Customers are increasingly opting for digital channels in both their business and entertainment. Consequent to this, the industry saw a sharp decline in cash usage, exacerbating the need for cashless and contactless payment options to keep players and casino operators safe while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

The continued adoption of mobile gambling technology and an ever-changing regulatory environment are key aspects for casino operators to consider going forward, as they have caused a great deal of acceptance by players and the regulator, now this is the gold coin of the moment.

Thanks to the impact of COVID-19, the adoption and upgrading of legacy technology with the latest advances in the gambling industry this is no longer a nice to have, but a must to survive.

Online payment cards (e-card, credit card), mobile wallets, in-app purchases and other forms of payment channels that allow a customer, or any consumer, to exchange money for goods or services without the need for cash.

Contactless payments take cashless payments a step further and mitigate the need for the payment method to come into contact with a physical point-of-sale device.

I explain through this example, let's look at payment cards in particular. Most payment cards are cashless, but not contactless, as they require consumers to insert the card chip into the point-of-sale (POS) device. However, some cards are contactless in that they only need to be held close to the POS reader to make the transaction, rather than inserted.

Now you may be wondering, did you already know this, for the casino sector what else is out there?

Another good example of solutions for casinos focused on the contactless and cashless payment channel is digital payment wallets with e-checks. It enables a true contactless and cashless casino and resort gambling experience, while providing an easier and more efficient way to fund gambling offering casino operators the flexibility and opportunity to reduce costs, while facilitating a seamless player experience from funding to cashing out.

The advent of digital wallets integrated into gambling experiences surpasses traditional forms of wagering by enabling casinos to connect to existing gambling systems, while equipping customers with the technology needed to better track, manage and control spending at both gambling and non-gambling points.

Leveraging existing casino systems and infrastructure to enable customers to easily fund casino play from their mobile devices, play slots and tables using digital vouchers, and cash out in various forms of self-service to create a contactless commerce environment that supports appropriate social distancing, is one of the biggest bets casinos need to make for a digital transformation to another level.

In addition, when a customer moves from one casino to another of their casinos, there is no need to register or sign up multiple times with, as it is a single balance of funds that follows the customer seamlessly, even for online play.

As casino operators, our goal should always be to enhance the customer and gambling experience in a responsible manner.

As consumers shift to a cashless society, operators using digital payment solutions can give customers better control over their gambling to gamble more responsibly. Unlike traditional ways of gambling (such as cash), digital payment technology allows players to better track, manage and budget their money. Based on player actions, casinos can create alerts and notify customers when their behaviors change.

This allows casino operators to intervene subtly, providing tools to educate and equip players to play more responsibly.

The need for contactless payments in the gambling industry has become essential. It has almost become a public health mandate to touch as little as possible, and these behaviors are sticking.

Because of this, approximately 60% of consumers are opting for self-service to maintain social distance, and 30% are taking advantage of contactless payment methods. Customers want to play in a secure environment, with this we will see increased play and frequency directed to establishments that do the best job of making the customer feel comfortable. Cashless solutions allow all industry stakeholders to offer viable solutions for responsible gambling while providing additional support to players in need of education and intervention.

These types of elements are the digital transformations that really bring value to players and that we as a localized gambling sector must focus our efforts on in order to cultivate that trust that the player has always had in us.