SAHARA becomes first Las Vegas Strip casino to offer crypto payments
16 October 2026(PRESS RELEASE) -- In another historic first for the U.S. regulated gaming industry, BurraPay, the leading provider of cryptocurrency payment solutions for the regulated casino gaming industry, has deployed its cryptocurrency payment platform at Sahara Las Vegas, making it the first casino on the Las Vegas Strip to announce compliant cryptocurrency-funded gaming transactions at its Casino Cage.
Owned and operated by the Meruelo Group, SAHARA Las Vegas is an iconic resort destination on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, continually evolving its gaming, dining, entertainment and hospitality offerings to deliver a modern and dynamic guest experience. Utilizing the BurraPay platform, players will be able to fund their wagers throughout the casino by depositing cryptocurrency in exchange for casino chips, tickets, etc.
“SAHARA Las Vegas continues to evolve with a focus on delivering a modern, seamless experience for our guests,” said Craig Pleva, General Manager of SAHARA Las Vegas. “Expanding our payment options to include cryptocurrency is a natural next step, giving our guests greater flexibility and convenience while embracing the innovation shaping the future of Las Vegas. BurraPay provides a compliant solution that allows us to introduce this option thoughtfully and responsibly.”
BurraPay's patented crypto payment platform was specifically engineered to meet the rigorous compliance standards demanded by U.S. gaming regulators - a barrier that has until now kept cryptocurrency entirely out of Nevada’s licensed casino ecosystem. The company offers both a fully-embedded platform that integrates directly with casino player account management systems in land-based, iGaming, and online sportsbook environments; and an over-the-counter solution that has been developed for rapid deployment in land-based casino environments. Both solutions utilize BurraPay’s portfolio of patented technologies covering the secure, AML-compliant use of cryptocurrency - including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin - in casino environments, as well as blockchain monitoring tools capable of detecting problem gambling behaviors in real time.
“In June, our downtown launch made BurraPay the first compliant crypto payments provider to operate within Nevada's regulated gaming market, and its success proved that players and operators are ready for a new way to pay. Bringing that experience to the Las Vegas Strip was the natural next step, and we couldn't ask for a better partner than SAHARA Las Vegas,” said Luke Millanta, co-founder and CTO of BurraPay. “SAHARA Las Vegas is changing the game and we want to thank Craig and the entire team for their confidence and support.”