Behind the Buffet: The Economics of Casino Dining

The gastronomic experience at casinos is something we don't really talk about, or consider when going to play. Nowadays, casinos put a lot of effort into enhancing their dining facilities, especially high-end venues that have to stay ahead of the competition. The big question here is whether these casino buffets are just a gimmick or not.

Online casinos are steadily attracting more players, while their landbased equivalents are slowly losing patrons. The brick-and-mortar casinos can boast a more authentic gaming experience, but they have to pull in players who would otherwise settle for playing at home. Casino dining is one way they can beat their online competition, and more casinos are jumping in on the trend to create a more diversified range of entertainment.

What to Expect from Casino Buffets and Diners

The dining experience at a gaming facility can vary greatly. You can find charming little casinos in Fremont Street, historic Las Vegas, with heartwarming food in their on-site diners, and cosy casino floors nearby where you can continue your evening's entertainment. They are quite popular locations with a good variety of gaming tables and machines to keep you busy. But they pale in comparison to the largest casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, some 15 minutes away by car.

The largest casino destinations have a premier range of eateries to behold, all inside their enormous complexes and within walking distance to their casinos. Often, guests who have booked stays or casino regulars can get discounted or complimentary meals at these fine diners. The top of the range can include a variety of exotic foods, Michelin-star restaurants and even celebrity chef eateries. Teppanyaki grills with wagyu steaks, Parisian diners, steakhouses, and all sorts of seafood delights await you at these high-end casino restaurants.

Where Casino Dining is Most Popular

Casino dining is more of a novelty that would more likely attract tourists than locals. While there are gaming complexes with their own restaurants scattered across the US, the casino resorts are the ones that concentrate most on enhancing their dining amenities.

Gambling tourism is one of the main drivers behind the rise in casino eateries. Resorts with a good range of eateries are far more hospitable, and visitors can receive premium discounts on any of the in-house facilities. This extends to virtually all the amenities and luxuries that casino resorts can provide. If you are staying at one of the premier destinations on the Las Vegas Strip, you can benefit from a variety of discounts, not limited to:

• Complimentary meals at restaurants
• Heavy discounts on affiliated stores
• Getting discounts on a Cirque du Soleil show
• Free/Nearly free access to spa or wellness facility
• Discounted passes to nightclubs

The list goes on, but you get the idea. Casino dining is another luxury that feels more aimed at gambling tourists, to place them at the height of luxury. That is not to say locals don't also take advantage of the premier restaurants in their location – only they provide a much smaller fraction of the revenue compared to gambling tourists.

Dining Experiences That May Interest You

If you have discounts, the company is paying, or want to splash a little cash, here are our top suggestions for mid to high spending budgets.

1. STK Steakhouse – Wynn Las Vegas
2. Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen – Caesars Palace
3. Hakkasan Restaurant – MGM Grand
4. Eiffel Tower Restaurant – Paris Las Vegas
5. LPM Restaurant and Bar – The Cosmopolitan
6. LAGO by Julian Serrano – Bellagio

But if you are paying for your family, or don't want to overspend on your meal, we would guide you towards:

1. Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill – MGM Grand
2. Celebrity Food Hall – Caesars Palace
3. China Poblano – The Cosmopolitan
4. Pyramid Cafe – Luxor
5. The Buffet – Bellagio
6. Chéri Rooftop – Paris Las Vegas
7. House of Blues Restaurant & Bar – Mandalay Bay
8. Nine Fine Irishmen – New York-New York

It all depends on your taste and preference, but you can find diners that accommodate virtually every budget. Almost all casino resorts have food courts, with buffets, delis and cafes for quick bites. Spending a little more money, you can get a table at a mid-range restaurant with more bespoke culinary options. These can work perfectly for a brunch or a meal that you want to enjoy in lavish surroundings. But if you are celebrating something and want to go the extra mile, then you will need to break out the big bucks.

Sportsbook Restaurants and Dining

We didn't include sportsbook pubs and grills on our list, but those are also well worth checking out. MGM Grand Sports Bar, Tap Sports Bar, Stadia Bar and Charlie's Sports Bar are all quality sportsbooks where you can grab a bite to eat. You can tuck into neat burgers or order sides of nachos and salsa as you watch live football games. Plus, you can always have a little money riding on the games, they may just pay for your tab.

Can Dining Be a Psychological Trick

Giving you complimentary meals and discounted gastronomical experiences may raise your suspicions. Whether there is an ulterior motive behind these gestures, or if casinos use these restaurants to attract players unwittingly into their gaming facilities.
Casino resorts use restaurants not only to beat their competition but also to attract more people to use their facilities. This can certainly mean people who walk into a casino resort can end up at one of its slot machines or gaming tables. However, they are not forcing you to enter the casino, not by any means. Forcing you would be to ask you to pay in poker chips, or to only have restrooms in the casino.

Benefits and Loyalty Programs

One of the best motivators to turn content diners into avid gamers is a casino's membership program. Registering for a casino membership is easy and can be done within minutes. It can immediately give you a few discounts and freebies to attract your attention. These loyalty programs span to nearly every facility and luxury that the resorts (and chains) have to offer. It also includes several gaming perks.

After paying for your bill at a restaurant, you usually pick up a good few comp points. Depending on the program and how much you spent, that could be redeemed for some free play. This means you can go into the casino afterwards and spend your complimentary gaming chips on a slot machine, roulette wheel or blackjack table. The more comp points you accrue, the bigger the prizes. For example, at Caesars and MGM facilities, if you get enough comp points you can be rewarded with monthly bonus spins and bets, and even birthday bonuses.

These may not mean much to a casual diner, but to someone who enjoys a good game, this is a fantastic deal. Your expenditures at the resort's shops, restaurants, bars and facilities can all fund a few rounds on your favourite games. It is a no-brainer to then head to the casino and see how far you can stretch those comp points. Who knows, you may break even – and then all those items you bought and meals you had didn't cost you a dime. Below are links to the membership programs of the biggest casino brands.

• Caesars
• Hard Rock
• MGM
• Boyd Gaming
• PENN
• Red Rock
• Bally's
• Great Canadian Entertainment

Concluding Casino Gastronomy

You wouldn't say no to a complimentary meal, or a heavily discounted fine dining experience. Casino dining is really a benefit for all parties involved, as casinos can use it to attract more visitors, and for you, it can mean some good discounts or even free play (through comp points). As an avid gamer, we highly recommend you check out the membership programs of any casino resorts you plan on staying at. Even a day trip to an Atlantic City resort could bring you a worthy bundle of comp points that can be used in your next gaming sessions. These loyalty benefits can be used in physical casinos or even in their online counterparts.

Loyalty programs are not the reserve of big brands either. You may find similar types of programs in smaller casinos, local venues, and even in tribal casinos. You don't have to use up your comp points, or even gamble for that matter. However, if you are a gamer, then you can use these programs to get awesome gaming bonuses.