Nevada casinos are changing how they handle small payouts after the U.S. government stopped making pennies.
They are now rounding payouts to the nearest nickel, which is good news for gamblers. A notice from the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) explains how casinos must deal with this shift. Although some casinos have been faster to adjust than others.
Here’s what it means for players, operators, and the future of cash payouts on the casino floor.
Why Pennies Disappeared
In November (2025), the U.S. Mint stopped producing one-cent coins. The reason was simple: it cost more to make a penny than it was worth.
Pennies are still legal to use, but fewer are in circulation. This has created problems for industries that rely on coins, including Nevada casinos.
Slot machines, ticket vouchers, and cage payouts often involve exact amounts down to the cent. Without enough pennies, casinos needed a new system.
What the NGCB Now Requires
The Nevada Gaming Control Board issued guidance that allows casinos to round payouts—but only under specific rules.
Casinos cannot always round down. They must choose one of the following:
- Always round up to the nearest nickel.
- Round up or down to the nearest nickel.
For example:
- A $2.01 payout may become $2.05.
- A $2.06 payout may become $2.10 if using a round-up policy.
This ensures fairness and prevents casinos from consistently shorting players.
How Casinos Must Inform Players
Transparency is required under the new rules. Casinos must clearly explain their rounding policies by:
- Posting signage across the property.
- Displaying messages at ticket redemption kiosks.
- Applying the same policy consistently.
Players should be able to see exactly how their payouts are adjusted before they cash out.
Why Some Casinos Are Slower to Change
Not all casinos adopted rounding at the same time.
- Smaller venues and restricted licensees moved quickly because they had fewer pennies.
- Large Strip casinos delayed changes since they had bigger coin reserves.
Some major operators have also taken different approaches:
- MGM Resorts has said it will round up in favor of players.
- Wynn has reported that it still has enough pennies or may offer alternatives like vouchers or charity donations.
What Happens to the “Extra” Money
If a casino rounds up a payout, it is technically paying more than the original amount. However, this does not distort tax reporting.
Nevada uses Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) to calculate taxes. GGR is based on the original payout amount, not the rounded figure.
If a casino pays extra due to rounding:
- It can adjust for the difference.
- It must keep detailed records for NGCB review.
This ensures accurate tax reporting and prevents manipulation.
Charity Option for Spare Change
Casinos may also offer players the option to donate leftover cents to charity instead of rounding.
Key details:
- This must be voluntary unless clearly disclosed.
- Donations are treated as post-payout contributions.
- These amounts are not deducted from GGR.
This gives players a choice while helping casinos manage small amounts.
Does Rounding Affect Casino Profits?
The short answer is: not much.
Even in high-volume casinos, the financial impact is small.
- A busy property might handle thousands of transactions daily.
- The average rounding difference is only a few cents per transaction.
- Annual impact may reach the low six figures for large operators.
Compared to billions in yearly gaming revenue, this is minimal.
Round-up policies slightly favor players, while rounding both ways tends to balance out over time.
What This Means for Players
For most players, the change is minor but noticeable:
- You may receive slightly higher payouts if the casino rounds up.
- You won’t receive exact penny amounts in many cases.
- You may have the option to donate leftover change.
Overall, the system is designed to be fair and easy to understand.
Penny Slots Are Here to Stay
The NGCB’s guidance is a practical response to a real-world problem: fewer pennies in circulation. Casinos are adapting without changing how games work or how winnings are calculated.
Penny slots are not going away. Instead, payouts are being adjusted to fit a coin system that no longer includes the penny.
For players, the biggest takeaway is simple: rounding rules are in place, they are regulated, and in many cases, they work slightly in your favor.
