That has certain reasons underlying. Accounting security deposits in cash is insecure and subject to steal, so usually major hotel chains restrict themselves from cash operations altogether.

I just came up with a thought that Booking.com offers something similar to Bailsman's solution in accommodation sphere, if you book a major hotel (say, Radisson Blue), the security coverage is provided by Booking.com, so you actually don't pay a deposit. Dunno how they manage that, offer a deposit themselves or provide guarantees, but from the user's point of view, they don't pay anything extra over what they want to pay.