The dramatic revolution in casinos: radical changes to attract young people
After decades of gloomy and smoke-filled spaces, the world's largest casinos are completely changing their appearance, eliminating gaming machines in favor of a new concept designed for young people.
The gambling industry in the USA is undergoing a dramatic facelift. Instead of closed, gloomy, and smoke-filled spaces, new casinos are being redesigned as lifestyle and entertainment complexes flooded with natural light. This structural change is intended to address the industry's biggest challenge: attracting Gen Z and millennials, who are accustomed to placing all their bets at the click of a button from the couch.
According to data from TheMarker, young people bet at much higher rates than their parents, but they do so almost exclusively through smartphone apps. The high accessibility of sports betting platforms has created a situation where physically arriving at a casino is no longer necessary for the act of betting itself. As a result, when Gen Z members do choose to leave the house, they are looking for a broad social and cultural experience, rather than just sitting for long periods in front of slot machines.
To adapt to the new reality, casino operators are changing the space allocation in their properties. If in the past gaming tables and machines occupied about 60% of the property's area, today this share is dropping to 40%, and even to less than 10% in new projects.
This includes abandoning the old concept of spaces without windows or clocks, alongside a widespread move to ban smoking in enclosed areas. It also involves integrating chef-led restaurants, street food markets, bowling alleys, spa complexes, concert halls, and green parks.
A prominent example of the trend is the project planned in Queens, New York, initiated by Steve Cohen, where the gambling area will constitute only one-tenth of the total area, surrounded by an extensive public park. At the same time, companies like Penn Entertainment are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrading old properties and turning them into complexes that resemble modern entertainment centers.
For gambling operators, food, hotel, and leisure services have become a major growth engine aimed at generating revenue even from those who do not come to play roulette.
