The American casino industry wants gambling regulators to make it easier to adopt cashless payment transactions on the casino floor, citing a desire to help customers avoid handling money during the coronavirus outbreak.

In a report released Tuesday, the American Gaming Association called on regulators in states where gambling is allowed to update their rules or laws to integrate cashless options for gamblers.

The push follows an 18-month study of the issue by both commercial and tribal casinos, and equipment suppliers to try to pave the way for cashless transactions on a wide scale basis.

Presently only a small number of casinos use such payments.

Early last year, the AGA convened a working group of members to evaluate the regulatory, processing, and consumer landscape related to expanding payment options on the casino floor.

The Payments Modernization Policy Principles, the product of that collaborative effort, seek to educate state and tribal regulators who are considering expanding payment choice: 

1. Equip customers with more tools to wager responsibly. 

2. Give customers payment choice and convenience. 

3. Ensure state laws enable a flexible regulatory approach, capable of keeping pace with evolving forms of digital payments. 

4. Address heightened customer public health concerns. 

5. Provide customers confidence in digital payment security. 

6. Create a uniform regulatory environment for casino operators, suppliers, and regulators. 

7. Empower law enforcement to better identify offenders through digital payment analysis.

(The Associated Press, AGA contributed to this report.)