Australia-based Aristocrat Technologies Inc. announced Monday it has partnered with casino operator Boyd Gaming to launch Aristocrat's cashless wagering digital wallet technology at Blue Chip Casino Resort Spa in Michigan City, Indiana.

it will eliminate the need to handle cash at slot machines or redeem tickets, creating a frictionless, socially distanced experience for the customer, according to a news release.

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Aristocrat’s new innovation is the main piece of a new "Resort Wallet" feature in which patrons can place cash on account at the cashier cage, then use their player loyalty card to instantly access those funds on the casino floor, the news release said.

Michigan City is on the south shore of Lake Michigan, in Indiana, just south of the Michigan state line. Michigan authorities hope to launch online casino gaming and online sports betting by the end of the year.

“Building on our strategic partnership with Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming continues to add best-in-class mobile cashless wagering and contactless solutions that will greatly enhance the patron experience at our properties,” Blake Rampmaier, senior vice president and chief information officer for Boyd Gaming, said in the news release. "As previously announced, we will continue to leverage our partnership with Aristocrat to drive mobile innovation in a secure and exciting environment for our patrons.”

The launch will initially provide access to the wallet for slot machine players, allowing them to use their B Connected player loyalty card to place wagers and cash out credits, the release said. In future stages, access to the digital wallet will be expanded to table games, restaurants, and other amenities at Boyd Gaming’s Blue Chip.

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Many regulators have asked manufacturers to accelerate their cashless strategies because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Aristocrat, licensed in about 300 gaming jurisdictions and operating in more than 90 countries, has expanded its digital and mobile strategies that will assist in transforming the live casino experience to be a more robust patron experience while supporting responsible gaming initiatives, the release said.

“We are thrilled to partner with Boyd to bring this new and exciting solution to their patrons,” Cath Burns, executive vice president of customer experience solutions for Aristocrat, said in the release. “We are passionate about the patron engagement and that Boyd continues to roll out Aristocrat's suite of innovative CX mobile solutions to aid in the transformation of the patron and industry experience.”

With the infrastructure of online sports betting already in place, Indiana state Sen. Jon Ford said he believes the addition of online casino gaming could provide an additional revenue stream to the state. Ford is working on the language for an online casino bill that he plans to introduce in 2021.