Question of the Day - 17 October 2025

Far from it. Casinos have a lot more cash on hand than the average bank branch. 

In March 2020 in response to the pandemic, the Federal Reserve reduced the reserve-requirement ratio for all depository institutions (banks, credit unions, etc.) to 0%. This means banks aren't required to hold a specific percentage of their deposits as reserves (either as cash in vaults or deposits at the Federal Reserve). While the reserve ratio is 0%, this doesn't mean banks hold zero physical cash. Banks hold some cash on hand for teller transactions and ATM withdrawals. 

No specific Federal Reserve regulation mandates a minimum amount of physical cash a bank branch must keep on hand. The amount is determined by each branch's location, size, and customer demand. The average bank branch typically keeps enough cash in the drawers and vault to cover up to two days of expected transactions, with estimates ranging from $20,000 at a small rural or supermarket branch up to $500,000 at a busy urban branch with a lot of commercial accounts. Again, this cash isn't a regulatory requirement.

Casinos, on the other hand, are regulated by state gaming commissions, which require them to maintain a sufficient bankroll at all times. The amounts tend to fall under the jurisdiction of the Audit Divisions. In Nevada, it's Gaming Control Board regulation 6.150, which you can look up in its entirety on the GCB's website.

Precisely calculated formulas apply, depending on the size of the property; naturally, the more gambling a casino offers, the more money it needs to have available. Regardless of how big or small a casino might be, however, it's required to remain in compliance with the regulation; otherwise, it must alert Gaming Control immediately should the available bankroll fall even $1 beneath the mandated amount.

When we asked the chief of the Audit Division whether this ever happens, he explained that a sizable safety cushion is built into the required dollar amount, so that in the event of a temporary shortfall, a property can still operate. However, those that violate the regulation have typically gone out of business shortly thereafter. In other words, it's not exactly a sign of good financial health.

The bankroll that a typical casino (as opposed, for example, to a standalone video poker bar) must have is divided into two types: the money they must keep "on hand," i.e., hard currency in the cage, kiosks, and vaults; and the money that falls into the "next-business-day" category -- in other words, funds that the casino is good for, but would need to issue a check or wire transfer for, being too large to be handled via a straight cash transaction.

As far as the actual formula is concerned, it's basic arithmetic, if you have all the relevant figures at your disposal, and the GCB supplies an Excel spreadsheet that has all the codes embedded in it and works it out for you, once you type in the required information. 

So you can see that there's no set figure we can quote, but we can say this: Casinos have a heckuva lot more money on hand than banks.