Viral Video Claims Las Vegas Casino ATMs Will Soon Melt Jewelry for Gambling Credits

Nevada law prohibits instant gold smelting, and the machines are currently only located in China with no immediate plans for U.S. expansion.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

A viral video circulating on social media claims that Las Vegas casinos will soon install ATMs that can melt down customers' jewelry and convert the gold into gambling credits. However, experts say this is unlikely to happen anytime soon, as Nevada law prohibits the instant smelting of gold to prevent money laundering, and the machines featured in the video are currently only located in China with no immediate plans for U.S. expansion.

Why it matters

The idea of casino ATMs that can instantly melt down jewelry for gambling credits has captured the public's imagination, but the reality is that such machines would be illegal to operate in Nevada due to concerns over stolen property and money laundering. This story highlights the challenges casinos face in balancing customer convenience with regulatory compliance.

The details

The video in question shows a machine called the 'Smart Gold Store,' which is a miniature automated refinery that can melt down jewelry after scanning it for purity. While the video makes the process look instantaneous, it actually takes 10-30 minutes to complete. However, Nevada law NRS 647 requires businesses that buy secondhand gold to hold the items in their original form for 30-90 days so police can check them against stolen property reports. This effectively makes the instant smelting of gold illegal in the state. Additionally, the machines would require specialized industrial ventilation and high-voltage power that standalone casino ATMs could not accommodate.

  • The first Smart Gold Store was introduced in Shanghai, China in April 2025.
  • Additional Smart Gold Store locations were later opened in Macau and Hong Kong.

The players

Kinghood Group

A Shenzhen-based Fortune China 500 company that developed the Smart Gold Store machines.

Nevada NRS 647

A state law that requires businesses buying secondhand gold to hold the items in their original form for 30-90 days to allow police to check for stolen property.

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What they’re saying

“Lost all your money gambling and can't play anymore? Well... you still have your wedding ring!”

— Ghost-oh (Reddit)

“Why leave? We'll take anything you have of value if you just stay here. When you're out of jewelery, why not nip next door to the Kidney-O-Matic?”

— -SaC (Reddit)

What’s next

Kinghood Group has not yet filed for a U.S. patent on the smelting component of the Smart Gold Store, which would be required for the company to legally import the machines to the United States. Industry experts suggest the machines or a similar competitor may be showcased at the NAMA OneShow, the world's largest vending machine expo, in Los Angeles in April 2026.

The takeaway

While the idea of casino ATMs that can instantly melt down jewelry for gambling credits may seem novel, the reality is that such machines would be illegal to operate in Nevada due to concerns over stolen property and money laundering. This story highlights the challenges casinos face in balancing customer convenience with regulatory compliance.