According to Online Poker Report, cash will no longer play at MGM Resorts properties around the United States. The site pointed out that impacted poker rooms will include casinos from Las Vegas to Michigan: Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Monte Carlo, Mirage, Beau Rivage in Biloxi, and MGM Grand Detroit. The change will be enforced as of April 1.

OPR speculated that the policy change to rid money from the tables might have to do with anti-money laundering efforts: The change could be to close “a potential leak on the compliance side… Poker is unique in the modern casino, as it’s one of the few ways that money can be wagered without being first converted into chips or credits. In practical terms, it’s the only way you could legally win (or lose) large amounts of cash at a casino without ever entering into the auditable financial flow of the casino.”

Other casinos in Las Vegas and around the world could soon follow MGM’s lead. The leading news site explained, “Other major live poker rooms in Las Vegas are likely to follow the lead of MGM in implementing this policy, although their time frames may not be as aggressive and universal adoption is unlikely in the near-term.”

The reaction on Two Plus Two to the OPR article was mixed. One poster wrote, “way overdue,” while another poster commented, “It’s 100x easier to angle-shoot hiding big chips than $100 bills and the $100 bills are much easier see from the other end of the table. This is wonderful news for angle-shooters and cheaters.”

One other poster relayed, “Fantastic news! I hate playing with cash on the table. It makes it much more difficult to read a person’s stack size and facilitates passing counterfeit bills.”

The impact of the move on the upcoming WSOP at the Rio in Las Vegas was discussed as well even though the casino is not an MGM property. To that end, one poster wrote, “Great news, although you’d have wonder if chip runners at the Rio are going to lose their mind this summer. Can’t imagine the WSOP would add an extra runner or two because of this. Not a big deal at smaller rooms.”

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