Land-based casinos are ever-evolving to keep up with the latest glitz and glamour trends
The gambling industry has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of decades. Improvements in technology have helped drive online growth but have also given more scope to land-based casinos to use technology in improve the games offered, as well as the environment for the punters.
There has been substantial growth in the online casino industry, with increasing revenue across the globe. It is estimated that the online gambling industry was worth just under $67 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach just under $93 billion by 2023. At the same time, there have been revenue reductions across land-based casinos. In Las Vegas, there was growth in revenue between 2009 and 2017, and revenues had started falling by a staggering 8.9% by January 2018.
Similar figures were seen in the UK, where casinos saw small rises of just 1% in 2017, and 3% revenue losses. Nonetheless, there is still a huge amount of money generated by land-based casinos. In 2017 there was over $72 million generated in tax revenue in Las Vegas alone, and those designing casinos have huge budgets to work with when designing new building and new areas within existing casinos.
The competition from online Casinos
With the rise of online casinos, land-based venues are now facing huge competition. Offering a range of different games for all sorts of players, 888 Casino is one of the major players, they offer live casino games, which enable you to interact with the dealers as you might at a real land-based venue, on top of this they have thousands of slots and a great selection of table games, giving this online casino the advantage over many venues.
Online casinos can make their customers feel special in the same way you might receive comps at any venue. A VIP club can reward frequent players with exclusive content, prize draws and giveaways, as well as free vouchers and cash bonuses. At online casinos, VIP events happen throughout the year, including an annual Christmas party, concerts, and exclusive weekends away in different European cities. The different levels of VIP status help make players feel rewarded and special when playing online. The developers work hard to help recreate the feel of a casino accessible from the comfort of the players own home and being able to play online give payers additional flexibility of being able to play from any location, and on the go.
Land-Based Casinos
Nothing quite beats the glitz and glamour of land-based casinos, with elegant cocktails on demand, the clinking sound of machines, and the excitement of socialising with others.
However, thanks to their online competitors, land-based casinos have had to take a new innovative approach to attract and keep customers, such as these impressive casino designs around the world. Everything from the layout of the slot machines, the pattern on the carpet, to the use of natural lighting has become an exact science, and architects are innovating to create ever more comfortable and attractive locales.
Many land-based casinos have grown to become full-blown resorts to offer something different to what can be found online. Alongside the traditional gambling games, many venues now include shopping centres, spas, bars, restaurants, and tend to be based in large, cosmopolitan cities, offering something for everyone.
Hotel de Paris and Place du Casino, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Place du Casino in Monte Carlo offers players all the thrills and glamour you’d expect in a classic casino.
Perhaps one of the most glamorous locations to have a casino, and featured in several Hollywood films like the James Bond franchise, Confessions of a Cheat, and The Red Shoes, the Place du Casino is elegant and sumptuous, featuring floor to ceiling marble, Grecian style columns and marble table-tops.
Located inside the Hotel de Paris, the imposing chandeliers of the grand lobby lead to the elegant marble staircase of the casino, which features a range of games such as poker, blackjack, and baccarat, as well as slot machines and a cocktail bar. Additionally, this hotel provides exclusive access to some of the most beautiful Mediterranean beaches a private country club, golf club, and the thermal spas. This was one of Princess Grace’s favourite hotels, and in 2019 was restored to its former glory following a US$280 million-dollar refurbishment.
The Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
The Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is undoubtedly an iconic venue. It has 638 luxury guestrooms and suites and is designed to look like back-to-back guitars. It certainly attracts plenty of attention as it spans 450 feet in the sky and is covered in glass panes.
It resides in South Florida so you’re most likely to see it doused in sunshine, which only adds to the spectacle. The structure was designed by Hard Rock International’s famous architect, Steve Peck of the firm Klai Juba Wald Architecture. It took a total of 10 years to design and build, but it was certainly worth the wait, it even features a spectacular light show at night!
Casino de Genting, Pahang, Malaysia
The Casino de Genting in Pahang, Malaysia, is the only legal land-based casino in the country, and there has been no expense spared when designing it.
There are five hotels, including the First World Hotel and Plaza, which, at 7,351 rooms holds the world record for world’s largest hotel. Additionally, there is a theme park, shopping mall, restaurants, night clubs, bars, and a waterpark, making this the ideal holiday destination for gamblers and their families. The site has also hosted award ceremonies and TV shows have been filmed there.
Sun City, Rustenburg, South Africa
Sun City casino is decadently designed with a safari theme to offering something different.
Renowned for being the resort that has it all, here there are manmade beaches, waterfalls, pools, two world class golf courses, as well as nightclubs, bars, and restaurants. At the heart of this, is the casino, featuring thousands of slot machines and tables.
The resort itself is surrounded by lush greenery and is modelled on a safari, with animals throughout the environs of the resort. For travellers with a more adventurous spirit, the resort is close to Pretoria, where visitors can tour the historical city, ride the famous blue train, and go to the Botanical Gardens and Zoological Garden of South Africa.
Now land-based casinos are having to compete with the easily accessible online casinos, there’s really no holding back with venue design and offerings.
