In an industry still grappling with the balance between innovation and regulation, Trustly’s new partnership with Acres Manufacturing could mark one of the most consequential shifts in how players interact with casinos. By integrating Trustly Scan & Pay with Acres’ Universal Payment Adapter, the two companies are not simply removing cash from the casino equation – they are reimagining the entire player payment journey.
The collaboration allows gamblers to instantly fund slots and tables by scanning a QR code, transferring money directly from their bank account – no apps, no cards, no digital wallets required.
The vision is both elegant and disruptive: cashless gaming that feels as immediate as inserting a coin.
Why This Matters for the iGaming Ecosystem
The implications extend far beyond the casino floor. For years, land-based gaming has trailed behind the digital convenience of iGaming operators, where instant deposits and withdrawals are a given.
Now, Trustly’s Pay by Bank infrastructure, already a backbone of online gaming payments in Europe, bridges the gap between online and offline play.
For casino operators, this evolution is not just about convenience. Cash handling eats up nearly 6% of revenue, according to Trustly’s data. By eliminating that overhead, casinos gain a double win: lower operational costs and faster, frictionless payments that encourage more play.
And there’s a psychological dimension, too. Studies consistently show that players spend more when the friction is reduced. Trustly’s figures suggest a 38% increase in “coin-in” among cashless players – a number that could redefine casino economics in a market hungry for efficiency and growth.
Regulatory Readiness and the Speed of Deployment
One of the biggest hurdles in cashless gaming has always been compliance and integration. The Universal Payment Adapter from Acres is designed as a plug-and-play solution that can slot into any existing system, meaning no costly tech overhauls and no waiting for approvals.
The fact that the technology already holds regulatory clearance in major tribal and commercial jurisdictions makes this partnership especially significant. It gives Trustly a fast lane to national rollout in a market where speed and compliance rarely coexist.
As Noah Acres put it, the collaboration offers “a true plug-and-play cashless interface that requires no additional technology integration.” In an industry where many cashless initiatives have stalled under complexity, this simplicity could be the game-changer.
A Shift Towards a Hybrid Payment Future
For iGaming stakeholders, this deal also signals a philosophical shift. The line between land-based and online gaming is blurring rapidly, with hybrid models gaining traction. Integrating open banking payments into physical casinos mirrors what’s already happening online, where direct bank payments are overtaking card-based methods in speed, trust, and cost efficiency.
This opens the door for deeper cross-channel loyalty programs, smoother player verification, and eventually a unified wallet experience across both physical and digital environments.
The potential to connect real-world play with online accounts could redefine player retention strategies across the industry.
The Bigger Picture: Trust, Transparency, and the End of Cash
In the long run, Trustly’s move isn’t just about payments – it’s about data. With Open Banking rails, casinos gain cleaner, faster insight into player transactions while maintaining bank-level security and traceability.
For regulators, this means more transparency; for operators, more control; for players, more trust.
The transition to cashless systems, however, will require careful handling. Many patrons still view cash as synonymous with privacy and control. The challenge for casinos will be ensuring that convenience doesn’t come at the cost of perceived autonomy.
Yet, as the digital economy pushes toward frictionless financial ecosystems, this partnership positions Trustly and Acres as the architects of a new standard – one where the casino floor finally catches up to the digital era.
The Trustly–Acres alliance may be the inflection point the U.S. gaming market has been waiting for. As the push toward seamless, cashless ecosystems accelerates, this partnership does more than modernize payments – it redefines player experience, merges digital and physical gaming economies, and underscores how financial technology is quietly shaping the future of play.
If history is any guide, this won’t just make casinos faster or more efficient. It might make them fundamentally smarter.
Trustly Scan & Pay
| Key Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Partnership | Trustly (Open Banking) & Acres Manufacturing (Universal Payment Adapter) |
| Product | Trustly Scan & Pay – instant, cardless, and app-free Pay by Bank funding |
| For Players | Scan a QR code → instant bank transfer → play immediately |
| For Casinos | Saves up to 6% in cash handling costs, boosts “coin-in” by 38% |
| Integration | Plug-and-play; works across all slot machines and management systems |
| Regulatory Status | Approved in major tribal and commercial jurisdictions in the U.S. |
| Market Impact | Bridges gap between iGaming and land-based gaming payments |
