Casinos and casino resorts usually aren’t the first thing we think of when we’re talking about better sustainability in business. However, these establishments can actually take a large toll on the environment. This is mainly to do with high foot traffic, energy, and water consumption.
Through sustainable practices, casinos everywhere can contribute to a better tomorrow, reduce operation costs, and even attract more customers.
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Energy Consumption
Lighting, heating, cooling, and the electricity needed to run games, all contribute to high energy consumption in casinos. This consumption is amplified if the casino works 24/7 or if it has a restaurant and hotel.
To lower their consumption, casinos should consider investing in solar panels. By relying on a renewable energy source, they can lower their carbon footprint and save money while keeping the quality of their services high. As well as that, casinos shouldn’t be afraid to use smart technologies like automated lights and heating. These systems can adjust based on how many people are in the establishment on a given day or during a specific time. That way, no extra energy is wasted.
Waste Reduction
One of the biggest issues with casinos is how much waste is created. A lot of food gets thrown away and there is a high percentage of single use plastic being put in the garbage every day (like packaging and straws).
Therefore, reducing waste is a must. There are several ways casinos can do this:
- Giving back: A lot of restaurants today give away the food they didn’t sell to the less fortunate and homeless. This is a great way to give back to the community and even show some social responsibility. Casinos can share that they will be giving food away at the end of the day at a certain time, for example.
- Replacing single use plastic: Replacing straws, plastic cups, and packaging with paper or other biodegradable alternatives can reduce plastic waste significantly. Reusable options are also a great alternative.
- Recycling: Starting a recycling program can also be a good way to give back to the community. Since this tactic requires a lot of planning, partnering with a waste management company to help can be a great idea.
Eco-Friendly Transportation
Operators that want to go the extra mile should consider how they can lower the environmental impact of guests and employees traveling to the establishment. After all, we all know how bad cars are for the environment.
One such way to do this is to organize shuttles for employees and hotel guests. The carbon footprint can be significantly lowered when more people travel in one vehicle. Aside from that, it’s good to encourage guests to come with electric vehicles by adding charging stations and reserving special parking places.
If there is good public transportation in the area, casinos can partner with public transportation companies to include special routes to the establishment. Another idea is for operators to offer discounts or special promotions to guests who show their public transportation tickets.
In either of these cases, casinos won’t just be making a positive impact— they’ll also significantly decrease traffic and inrease accessibility.
Sustainable Food and Beverage
Casinos that offer food and beverages should look into sourcing their ingredients locally. This can support local businesses and agriculture, but also lower the high carbon footprint that comes with transportation of goods.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to offer plant-based options. These foods have a lower carbon footprint and they can also attract a wider variety of customers.
Offering Services Online
Online casinos don’t have high energy consumption and such a high carbon footprint. And since online gambling is so popular today, it’s only natural for casinos to start offering their services on the internet.
Not only can this reduce the environmental impact of the casino, but it can also draw in a much larger audience. For example, if operators get the right license, they can open an online casino in India, Japan, Malta, and other major countries around the world. That’s a lot more traffic for a fraction of the cost of running a land-based casino. And more importantly— operators can run their business worldwide without having a huge environmental impact.
If casinos are worried about losing that authentic ambience, they can also use technologies such as Virtual Reality to stand out and make the online space more exciting and appealing.
Educating Staff
Another area where operators can make a difference is internally. Staff should be educated about the environmental impact the industry has, as well as what can be done about it. They need to understand the new eco-friendly practices the establishment is introducing so they can better adapt to them.
Focusing on eco-friendly office solutions is also a good idea. So, offices should have reusable ceramic mugs and glasses instead of plastic cups and use the same smart heating and cooling systems as the casino does.
On top of that, it’s a good idea to start training programs on sustainability. Topics that should be covered are energy and water conservation, recycling, and general waste reduction. Not only will this contribute to a cleaner office, but it can also result in a lot of employees using these practices in their everyday lives.
Incentivizing Customers
If operators really want to make a difference, they can start green initiatives that motivate customers to participate. This is actually a really important step in normalising green alternatives, as not everyone will be accepting these changes immediately.
One way to get customers comfortable is to offer rewards and small bonuses for guests who choose the green alternatives that the casino has provided. If there is a hotel connected to the casino, customers who don’t opt for daily towel and bedsheet changes should be rewarded with extra chips or a free drink, for example.
Better Gaming Equipment
A lot of gaming equipment, like slot machines, have high energy consumption. To make the casino more eco-friendly, operators can switch to more energy-efficient models. These use less electricity because they rely on more efficient components and LED lighting. So, the customers won’t notice the difference, but there will be far less energy consumed.
As well as that, casinos should consider using recycled and sustainable materials when constructing or buying equipment. There’s no reason why they can’t partner with green vendors to build game tables, chairs, and other equipment with eco-friendly materials.
Green Infrastructure
Making the establishment greener is also possible through green infrastructure. This is true for both renovations and building new casinos. One way to make the building greener is to use recycled building materials. They often have the same properties as conventional materials, but come at a lower price and don’t have such a high impact on the environment.
Another great way to use green architecture principles is to incorporate green spaces. Buildings with a lot of greenery or rooftop gardens contribute to cleaner areas and look more aesthetically pleasing.
Collaborating With Green Vendors
Who the casino works with is also important. This goes for both regular vendors that deliver food, beverages, and other goods, as well as for companies that partner with the casino for events. We’ve already mentioned that using local vendors is an excellent solution in the first scenario.
When it comes to special events, casinos should partner with agencies and planners that are also eco-friendly. They should use digital tickets instead of paper ones, sustainable staging materials, and also avoid single-use plastics. Special attention needs to be paid to decorations, as this is where most of the waste usually comes from.
It may be harder to find truly green vendors, but once the connection is achieved, it should be maintained. Such an opportunity to do some good shouldn’t be missed!
Water Conservation
A lot of water is used in casinos for bathrooms, laundry, cleaning and maintenance, or landscaping. In an effort to conserve water, casinos should introduce low-flow toilets and faucets. For casino resorts, having low flow showerheads is also a good option. As in other examples we mentioned, these alternatives don’t affect the customer but can do a lot for the environment.
If there is a court, garden, or otherwise intricate landscape with the casino, efficient irrigation systems should be introduced. Another good tactic is to use drought-resistant plants to reduce the need for watering them.
Conclusion
All in all, a lot can be done to reduce the negative impact that casinos and casino resorts have on the environment. From banning single use plastic to introducing sophisticated irrigation systems, operators everywhere can give back to their communities and the world. These tactics are not just good for the Earth, they’re also excellent strategies— more and more people are attracted to social responsibility in business.
