Mega Casinos and their Impact on Their Locations

Constructing a mega-casino is something that begins years before the first foundation is dug or the first brick is laid. The consideration, thought and planning that goes into creating these entertainment, shopping, eating, and gambling palaces is immense.

It’s not just the physical building with its plumbing, kitchens, plug points, pools, and hotel rooms that need to be planned in minute details, but also hiring policies, health codes, security, and so many other things that come into play as well.

We’re going to take a look at the mega-casinos of the world and what comes along with them. Do they have a positive or negative effect on the regions they call home? What impact do they have on the environment they move into? Let’s find out.

The World’s Most Impressive Mega Casinos

There are casinos, and then there are mega casinos. These behemoth complexes contain entire hotels (often more than one), many restaurants, shopping centres or arcades, pools, fitness centres, and naturally, the casinos themselves, which have slots, table games and more. These are the world’s most lavish mega casinos and are ranked in ascending order of cost.

• Aria Campus, Las Vegas (cost $8.5 billion)
• Marina Bay Sands, Singapore (cost $6.8 billion)
• Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore (cost $5.2 billion)
• Wynn Las Vegas & Encore Resort (cost $5 billion)
• Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore (cost $4.5 billion)
• Resorts World, Las Vegas (cost $4.3 billion)
• Wynn Palace, Macau (cost $4.1 billion)
• The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas (cost $3.9 billion)
• The Venetian, Macau (cost $2.4 billion)
• City of Dreams, Macau (cost $2.1 billion)

When billions go into the construction and outfitting of a location like this, visitors can expect the most luxurious and high-end experiences when they come to stay or play at the casino. Since billions go into the creation and opening of these palaces, surely it’s logical to assume that the financial impact on the area will be a positive one. Let’s find out.

The Economic Impact of a Mega Casino

In many regions (provinces, states, or counties, depending on where you live), mega-casinos are welcomed by the local government. Keeping a region’s revenue stream as independent as possible, i.e. not relying too much on revenue sources that come in from outside the region, is always the preference of local governments. Self-sustainability is the goal, not because a region wishes to separate itself from the areas around it but because relying on businesses in the region is a simple, more practical, and safe way to guarantee the economic stability of the region.

Successful mega-casinos are a boon to the economy of their home state or county, thanks to a number of different revenue streams.

Taxes: Paid to local and state governments by the casino company itself as well as by its employees and through visitors who purchase souvenirs or book stays.

Winnings: Paid to winners who may then spend that money in the area rather than just in their home state or county.

Profits: Paid to the shareholders and ownership of the casinos.

Licensing fees: Paid to the state or the country’s government.

Mega Casino Jobs

There is the job creation aspect of a business that will have as many employees entering its doors as a mega-casino, of course. Job creation is an excellent thing on a personal level for individuals who could not find employment or were in search of better prospects or employment that is more in line with their personal skills and preferences. Those newly employed individuals can pay their taxes, get access to healthcare, shop for groceries or buy homes in the area.

It’s not just the casinos, their patrons, their employees and the local government that benefit from the opening of a mega-casino, oh no. Such large businesses are often in a position to do a fair amount of philanthropy, which entails giving to charitable causes or facilitating fundraising for those charities to help people or animals in need.

Any business that can offer all of the above is one that is going to bring the existing community closer together and create a more prosperous situation for most of the individuals in the region. Not only that, but the existing community will grow and be improved by new locals who have new skill sets and interests. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental impact studies must often be carried out to determine the environmental safety of the project before breaking ground on a business location that will bring considerable traffic into the area and considerable disruption to the physical location.

Thanks to a broader understanding of the desperate need our planet has to remain balanced and supported instead of used and drained by people, these studies are now more complex than ever before. Business owners want to work with the environment and preserve it for future generations, so concerns are addressed in full. The sustainability features of a mega-casino complex must also be considered. Thanks to sustainable design now being accepted as necessary and normal and a new generation of architects who understand the need for beauty, functionality AND conservation, it’s possible for these enormous businesses to set up shop and contribute to the safety and balance of the area too.

Green building standards take the following into consideration:

• Energy efficiency – The LED lighting, innovative HVAC systems, and energy management software available today make casinos, which were previously enormous power drainers, far more efficient. Which lightens the burden placed on power stations and, in turn, safeguards the environment.
• Water conservation – Water-efficient fixtures, practical rainwater management, and efficient irrigation for any plants must be considered and implemented for a casino to meet green building standards in many places.
• Sustainability of materials – The sources that the casino’s materials (from the piping to the wood floors and bathroom towels) come from have to be a consideration. Being a sustainable business begins with the suppliers that are chosen and the materials that are bought.

Renewable Energy

The integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or geothermal energy can further minimize the load placed upon the local power supply companies by a mega casino. Not only that but there are sources of power, once constructed, that may be available to more businesses than just the casino in question, which can actively improve the natural environment of the region.

A biophilic design comes into play when casinos, typically entirely indoor areas with no natural light, incorporate green spaces and areas of natural light into their design plans. This assists in maintaining the mental health and wellness of guests and gamblers, keeping them connected to the natural world while they visit. Natural light minimizes the need for artificial lights during the day, which further lowers energy consumption. The knock-on effects of design like this are so good both for individuals and the planet that it’s no wonder biophilic design is catching on all over the world!

Minimizing emissions and moving towards a zero-waste business model is also catching on in the casino industry as environmental standards and restrictions tighten to give our planet the support it needs. Many mega-casinos are part of recycling schemes and have committed to lowering their carbon footprint or even contributing so much to environmental growth and safety that they become carbon neutral.

The Mega Casino

There’s a lot of public debate when a new mega-casino opens in town. Some are for it, and others are against it, but ultimately, it is clear that the economic prosperity that such an enormous business (or collection of businesses) can bring to a region is too big a boon to ignore. The research is clear in its findings: when located in less densely populated areas specifically, a mega casino is likely to support the improvement of that area and create a better living situation for an enormous number of people.

As we grow and improve our knowledge base as a society at large, we’re able to make smarter choices that benefit as many people as possible. The casino industry has grown and evolved to a place where it’s possible for mega-casinos to be supported and support the economy, as well as the community in turn. Who knows what exciting developments the future may hold for us?