A lot is being made about how Resorts World is ushering Las Vegas and the casino industry into the Digital Age. It publicizes itself as “the Strip’s most technologically advanced property.” And it is a departure from any Las Vegas casino, as you’d expect, given the more than 10 years since the last one debuted in 2010.
This is known as the Digital Sphere. A small sign at the base describes it as offering “rich flexible digital content for mind-blowing immersive sensory experiences.” It boasts 20 million pixels across 6,000-plus square feet.
In addition, the casino floor can be cashless for those who don’t want to bother with filthy lucre.
We haven’t tried out the app or e-wallet yet, but they’re on the to-do list. The app enables guests to pay for casino, entertainment, and hotel amenities from their phone, check Genting Rewards account balances, and receive offers and awards. Players can also load a mobile wallet, dubbed GamingPlay, by depositing cash at casino kiosks or the player services desk, or by signing up for Play+, a payment platform that connects to a player’s bank accounts, PayPal accounts, and/or credit and debit cards. In addition, Resorts World’s smart tables read RFID-embedded chips, allowing them to provide “100 percent accuracy of guests’ gaming activities.” Players can cash in and out at the table, get a TITO voucher, put any leftover stake back into the e-wallet, or walk with their chips to use or cash out later. Slot players who have the app can scan QR codes to play. And the e-wallet is spendable throughout the property (except at the sports book, which falls under a different regulatory process).
Then there’s the sign-up system for the players club: 16 kiosks in a setting reminiscent of an Apple store. The sign-up line stretched through the casino when we were there, so we didn’t go through the process. But plenty of people did and assistants were on hand for the benefit of the bewildered. Again, the app eliminates the need for a physical Genting Rewards card.
And, of course, there’s the 100,000-square-foot LED screen on the south-facing side of the west tower. Overall, it’s 294 feet high by 340 feet wide and comprises 3,552 individual LED panels. It debuted last July Fourth with a brilliant virtual fireworks show, in lieu of an analog display in Las Vegas due to the pandemic.
At some point, we’ll also try out the keyless hotel-room doors that operate via a Bluetooth connection from cellphones and, of course, when we arrive at valet parking and receive our QR code, we’ll bypass registration and go straight to our room.
And this is all just for starters. Wait till you see the ordering system at the food hall, which we’ll cover in the next post.
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