Australian Casinos 2000 and Beyond

Introduction | Why Gaming Has Expanded so Rapidly | So, who is the current market for all these games of chance and why do they play? | What then does all this mean for the casino of the year 2000 and beyond? | Can this current formula survive the future in Australia? | What though of the internal product of the casino? | What other things will change? | Why is this? | Will this be allowed to continue till the eventual extinction of table games? Is a casino still a casino if it doesn’t offer table games? | Conclusion |

I don’t believe table games will disappear totally. In part because if casinos become nothing more than a gaming machine venue then it would be extremely vulnerable to direct competition. (without those machine changes previously described) Table games are still an important point of difference and are a product which has a specific target market and level of appeal. Gamblers are superstitious and enjoy the level of skill and control afforded by table games as well as the mechanical rather than computerised nature of the equipment involved. What will most likely happen to table games is that they will be transformed using technology into hybrid games incorporating many of the interesting features of gaming machines. This will mean more games like “Caribbean Stud” and “Let it Ride” which already incorporate jackpots and tournament features. Multi-station Blackjack and Roulette gaming machines already exist and it won’t be long before we see our first electronic table gaming pit with service personnel and instructional areas.

Animatronic dealers and themed situational settings may also be used to create a “West-Worldian” type table gaming experience. For example, we could have Bart Maverick dealing Blackjack with Wild Bill Hickock “playing” and live players entering and exiting this Old West movie scene. In another part of the same casino other themed fully interactive experiences may be created using both live actors and computer driven robotics.

Thus the casino complex of the future will be more dynamic with diversionary architecture and interior design used throughout to trick the mind into believing they are part of something which they are not. This means more experience and escape driven properties and thus we will see a multitude of everchanging themes within the casino properties.

A single facility may include such diverse themes as “The Old West”, “Ancient Rome”, “The Roaring Twenties”, “Galactica”, “Outback and Adventure”, “The Fabulous Fifties” and many other zones featuring horse and car racing, sports, and other adrenaline linked endeavours.

An important facet of such an operation will be the ability to implement rapid change. Any internal theme will need to be updated regularly for the fashion and trend conscious market which is prevalent today. This will be accentuated in areas where the casino deals with frequent repeat visitation from local customers. Thus the facilities will be designed to be somewhat “organic” in nature. Evolving, rapidly changing, living structures not just within the casino but within the entire leisure and entertainment district associated with it.

“Kray” style super computers and intense pre-planning will drive these new structures. For those that remember the movie “2001 : A Space Odyssey” a HAL style computer will ensure that every activity and transaction within the facility is monitored. Furthermore, the climate and atmosphere will be controlled in an intelligent sense to maximise gaming participation and the diversionary experience on offer. Thus a player wagering on a table game or gaming machine will be kept in comfort with their level of play monitored to ensure that they receive adequate benefits to reward their patronage and stimulate future play. This may be direct cash back to their Smart Card or by pre-payment of restaurant costs or with as little as free parking all automatically controlled to ensure patron service and convenience.

Other issues which will no doubt be addressed include; smoke free areas, higher dress standard areas to enhance the feel of sophistication, culturally specific zones for ethnic groups, and areas for tourists and learners.