Environmental Impact: Sustainability Practices of Online Casinos Compared to Land-Based Gaming Facilities
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By PAGE Editor
The last decade has proven that the great digital shift isn’t some massive event in the future. It’s here with us. The same holds for gambling, where licensed and regulated Internet gambling platforms such as the Mr Bet Casino are more popular for players than ever before.
A decade ago, players had to walk to the nearest land-based casino to wager. But the convenience of mobile online casinos has revolutionised things. These betting platforms boast enhanced gaming technology and a broader scope of games to enjoy from any location. Their winnings are more significant, and the bonuses will keep you coming for more without facing the constraints associated with brick-and-mortar gambling facilities.
Yet we’re in a climate crisis age where nations from around the globe are experiencing devastating impacts of an environment that seems to be turning against its inhabitants. As such, one question constantly hits our minds – are online gaming platforms more environmentally friendly? Today’s quick guide has the answers to this million-dollar question. Keep reading!
The Challenges With Brick-And-Mortar Casinos
The term casino evokes the thought of finely dressed players next to a spinning roulette wheel or sitting beside a card game table. Most physical casino establishments have always tried to cultivate the image of betting with a hint of luxury. But unfortunately, all the glamour comes at a significant environmental cost. Here are the common problems:
Lack of Vacant Space
Land-based casinos are massive. For example, the famed Las Vegas Bellagio casino takes about 200,000 square feet. Meanwhile, the Casino Royale Hotel and Casino in the Vegas Strip is a relatively tiny example, using up to 17,500 square feet like a massive mansion. These gigantic structures erode the soil during construction, and the parcel of land would probably be useless after demolition.
Use of Surrounding Areas
Besides the environmental impact of the building itself, physical casinos also use more space for parking lots. These spaces could have served social purposes. Moreover, if the local infrastructure can’t support a new establishment, the area could have a traffic jam problem.
Crowds of Casino Fans
These venues draw a lot of people. For instance, over 40 million tourists visited Las Vegas in March 2023, a 13.6% spike from the same month a year before. Such crowds come with many other things, from noise to trash to bodily fluids of casino visitors who’ve had one drink too many during their gaming sessions or other entertainment activities connected to the casino hotels.
Increase of Carbon Footprint
Most of us don’t have the luxury of a casino at our doorstep, so we often drive or fly to the lounges. These travels contribute to carbon emissions. Additionally, energy demands in such areas are high, considering the enormous crowds of visitors.
Efforts Taken by Physical Casinos to Fix the Situation
While brick-and-mortar establishments have reported negative environmental consequences, most have invested resources and efforts to contribute positively to sustainability.
For instance, casinos are now being constructed with green building practices that involve the following:
Energy-efficient designs;
Sustainable construction materials.
Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Convention Resort is one such example. This facility prides itself on being among the most eco-friendly establishments in the region. Other notable examples of the same include:
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City;
Element Las Vegas Summerlin;
Resorts World Sentosa.
Gambling facilities are also aiding their sustainability efforts by educating and engaging clients through green initiatives. They have ramped up their efforts to promote responsible gambling through printed materials in the lobbies and incentives for their patrons participating in sustainability programs.
Additionally, casinos today have teamed up with environmental agencies and engaged in relevant programs. As a result, these gambling establishments are improving their green cleaning, recycling, and renewable energy.
Finally, casinos strive to reduce food waste, a prevalent problem in the hospitality sector. The efforts include sourcing local food products, composting waste, and food rescue programs to cut down on any form of wastage.
So, Which Option Is More Eco Friendly?
The straightforward answer is online gaming sites, as the platforms don’t generate traffic or spew out greenhouse gases. However, the notion that online casinos are completely safe for the environment isn’t entirely true. These platforms have their energy requirements as they use data centers, which, as we all know, consume a ton of energy that releases greenhouse gases.
Thus, online casino platforms must prioritise advanced, eco-friendly technologies for their operations to establish themselves as genuinely eco-friendly alternatives. Platforms need to prioritise energy-efficient hardware, such as advanced computer processors.
On the other hand, gaming authorities and governments should contribute by introducing green regulations that mandate energy limits for iGaming sites. On top of that, the online gambling sector must manage its rapid growth responsibly if it surely wants to be a trademark of a more sustainable gambling future.
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