Lights and huge buildings filled with cold air—often located in the desert! This is the reality for so many land-based casinos. Estimates suggest that the gaming sector produces up to 2% of global emissions.
That may not sound like much but keep in mind we are talking about a single industry. One activity among the hundreds of thousands that take place every day.
That’s a lot of energy. The good news is that environmental protections are more accessible than ever. The rise of electric modes of transportation coupled with enhanced access to renewable energy is allowing businesses all over the world to scale back.
How can casinos become more sustainable? Let’s get into it.
Carbon Neutrality
Carbon neutrality means offsetting a business’s total emissions to achieve net-zero environmental impact. For casinos, this complex calculation must include their massive energy consumption from 24/7 operations, HVAC systems, electronic games, and lighting. Several major casino operators have made commitments toward carbon neutrality.
MGM Resorts announced plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Their efforts include installing one of Nevada’s largest solar arrays, upgrading to LED lighting across properties, and implementing advanced energy management systems. Caesars Entertainment has reduced water consumption by 20% since 2008 and diverts over 40% of waste from landfills.
However, true carbon neutrality requires examining the entire supply chain. For casinos, this includes manufacturing and shipping of gaming equipment, food, and beverage supply logistics, employee transportation, guest travel to and from properties, construction materials and maintenance, and server farms powering online operations.
The value of carbon offsets remains debated. While casinos might purchase offsets or invest in renewable energy, questions persist about verification and long-term impact. Some argue that offsets allow businesses to avoid making fundamental operational changes.
Supply chain sustainability presents particular challenges. A casino might achieve operational carbon neutrality while still relying on suppliers with heavy carbon footprints. For example, gaming machine manufacturers or food suppliers might use unsustainable practices or transportation methods.
This raises important questions for the industry: Should casinos be responsible for their suppliers’ emissions? How can they incentivize greener practices throughout their supply chain? What standards should verify carbon-neutral claims? The answers will shape how casinos approach environmental responsibility in the coming years.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a ready-made solution for any of those problems. In the shorter term, land-based casinos can improve their environmental practices with a simple policy change.
Remote Work
Obviously, this won’t be an option for land-based casino dealers or bartenders. But what about the hundreds—or even thousands of executive or administrative positions? Every casino has legions of people working behind the scenes. Customer service. Marketing. Sales. HR. Leadership positions focused on growth.
People who quietly keep the roulette wheels spinning from their desks every day. Another word for them? Commuters.
Covid did a lot of damage when it struck the world like a comet five years ago. One of the unexpected benefits? It took people off the roads. Cars are responsible for 30% of emissions in the United States and almost 50% of global greenhouse gases.
That’s an overwhelming amount of pollution caused by a single source. In March of 2020, it came to a screeching halt. Travel slowed by 75% basically overnight, resulting in a rapid reduction in emissions.
Obviously, keeping casino executives at home won’t produce nearly so large an effect as that. Here’s what is true: remote businesses are significantly more eco-friendly than those that require a centralized office and a fleet of commuters. They also save tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on office space every year.
One of the easiest ways for a casino to reduce its emissions is to allow employees to work from home whenever possible.
Online Casinos Do it Ideal
The most environmentally friendly casinos in the world are all online. No doubt about it. If you play roulette online you are reducing your carbon footprint. Really!
Well, online casinos don’t have to worry about keeping the lights on for 100,000-square-foot buildings. They don’t have insane pools and flashing lights in barren landscapes that were really only intended to house the occasional cactus.
They also don’t have millions of people burning up jet fuel to reach them every year. Nearly 60 million people in the United States alone hop into airplanes pointed at the desert to enjoy a little bit of gambling each year.
That’s an incredible amount of energy spent just getting there.
Obviously, there is some daylight between a destination vacation at a land-based casino and an evening of online gambling. Still, in the world of sustainability, cutting back is key. Reduce, refuse, and reuse is the frequently cited motto.
Executives at land-based casinos can—and should—look for ways to implement this philosophy in their daily dealings. For players at least, the solution is a little more straightforward. If you like to gamble but care a lot about the environment, there is a sustainable option waiting on your computer.