Casinos & Currency: A Practical Plan for the Coming Refresh

Later this year, the U.S. gaming industry will face a change that hasn’t occurred in nearly two decades: the introduction of a newly redesigned $10 bill. While a single denomination may sound modest, this launch marks the beginning of the U.S. Treasury’s Catalyst Series; a multi‑year, multi‑denomination currency redesign that will touch every corner of a casino operation.

“This isn’t just an artwork change,” said Patrick Richards, Senior Strategic Marketing Manager at CPI, during a recent industry webinar. “Think of this as a critical security update for money.”

For casinos, where cash intersects with technology hundreds (sometimes thousands) of times per day, preparation isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Why the $10 … and Why Now?

The redesigned $10 will be the first note released in a staggered rollout that will stretch across roughly eight years. Additional denominations will follow every two years, culminating with the $100.

The $10 was selected intentionally.

“It’s widely circulated, but not super critical for high‑value transactions,” Richards explained. “That makes it the ideal starting point to introduce new security features with minimal disruption.”

Importantly, the redesign is not a response to a specific counterfeit crisis. In fact, the $10 is among the least counterfeited U.S. notes. Instead, this update reflects a long‑term strategy to modernize U.S. currency, strengthen anti‑counterfeiting measures, improve accessibility for visually impaired users, and maintain global confidence in the dollar.

Planning for the Catalyst Series began more than a decade ago. Now, casinos are entering the phase where preparation turns into action.

Casinos Face a Unique Risk Profile

Casinos are unlike any other cash‑handling environment. Currency flows through an interconnected ecosystem of slot machines, table games, kiosks, cages, count rooms, retail outlets, ATMs, and back‑office equipment, often in full view of players.

“When I think about the casino environment and new currency, the first risk that comes to mind is counterfeits,” said Mark Greenawalt, Vice President of Gaming Sales at CPI. “Not preparing yourself for new notes can exacerbate that threat.”

On average, one in every 40,000 notes in circulation today is counterfeit or part of an attempted cheat. During currency transitions, that risk increases. Counterfeiters look for gaps in things like untrained staff, outdated firmware, or devices not yet updated.

At stake is more than money.

“At risk every day is your personal brand and your corporate brand,” Greenawalt said. “Especially if fraudulent currency gets passed on.”

The Player Experience Is on the Line

While fraud is a concern, player confidence may be the more immediate risk.

No guest wants to be stopped at a slot machine because a bill validator rejects a perfectly legitimate note. No player wants to be questioned at the cage over the authenticity of cash they just received from an ATM.

“Inadequately trained associates and unprepared systems can put the customer experience under fire,” Greenawalt noted. “You don’t want to give someone a second chance to reconsider their play.”

For casinos, friction equals lost revenue. A smooth transition protects not just compliance, but loyalty.

It’s Not Just Machines, It’s People

Much of the conversation around new currency focuses on devices… and rightly so. But people remain the first line of defense.

“Cashiers and cage staff will often be the first to encounter new notes,” Richards said. “They need early, thorough, and ongoing training.”

This training isn’t one‑and‑done. With employee turnover and a multi‑year release schedule, casinos must plan to update training materials repeatedly as new denominations enter circulation.

The good news: casinos won’t be starting from scratch. The U.S. government will roll out a public education campaign through the Currency Education Program (CEP), complete with reference materials and training tools that operators can incorporate into their own programs and CPI continues to add new information and tools for casinos to use on our Resource Page.

Follow the Money: Auditing Your Casino Floor

One of the most important steps casinos can take right now is deceptively simple: follow the money.

“Cash is transacted in multiple locations across your property,” Greenawalt said. “Slots, tables, redemption terminals, retail outlets — every touch point matters.”

That means conducting a comprehensive audit of:

• All cash‑handling devices
• Their age and upgrade capability
• Where cash intersects with technology
• Which touch points are customer‑facing versus back‑of‑house

Some older equipment may not be compatible with the new notes due to enhanced security requirements. Identifying those gaps early allows casinos to plan replacements or upgrades without last‑minute disruption.

Why Planning Now Pays Off Later

The redesigned $10 won’t appear overnight. Even after production begins, it will take weeks  or perhaps even months for new notes to reach casino floors. That window is intentional.

“The government has essentially given us a ten‑year roadmap,” Richards said. “This is the time to integrate currency updates into your broader technology planning.”

Casinos that act early gain flexibility. They can:

• Sequence upgrades instead of rushing them
• Align updates with scheduled maintenance
• Budget more accurately
• Train staff ahead of player exposure

Those that wait risk downtime, confusion, and lost play.

Readiness Is a Competitive Advantage

Currency redesigns are rare, but when they happen, they reshape operations for years. For casinos, the Catalyst Series isn’t just a compliance event, it’s an operational test.

“Preparing for new notes and executing your plan flawlessly enhances operational efficiency,” Greenawalt said. “And it reduces risk across the board.”

The first new $10 may be the least impactful denomination. But it’s also the dress rehearsal for what’s coming next.

Casinos that treat this moment as a strategic initiative will protect their players, their revenue, and their reputation long before the next note arrives.