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 |

In the short term. Yes!

In fact this philosophy must be enhanced to go beyond the individual complex to encapsulate the entire precinct within which each property operates. A symbiotic integration within the immediate zone will still create a magnet to which people are attracted. This will particularly be the case for those casinos operating in major cities with high tourist and visitor volumes. The casino and the area surrounding it should attempt to become “THE” entertainment and social environs of the district. This will mean more restaurants, cafes, cinemas, retail outlets, games centres, and recreational and leisure areas.

The size and complexity of the combined facilities will be dictated to a large extent by the immediate catchment area and population density of that zone. As more and more direct competitors come on-line and the suburbanisation of our cities continues it is likely that a limit exists as to the size of these leisure and entertainment districts. That will turn many casino operators to look at the suburban areas for potential sites. Much like the movement in major shopping centres ( such as the Westfield group ) to the suburbs these casinos will look to the size and population demographics of the suburbs to determine if an entertainment zone incorporating a fully operational casino is viable. Thus after mandatory exclusivity periods have expired, I believe we will see the “suburban branch” casino as part of leisure and entertainment zones. These will be much like the current “locals” casinos of Las Vegas with the city centre casinos refocussing on tourists, visitors and city dwellers.