Casino resorts are the epitome of luxury, affluence, entertainment and leisure. These resorts take entertainment to a whole new dimension, providing visitors with a wide range of amenities and services to feel like royalty. Establishments can take billions of dollars to construct and their realization from the conceptual phase to when they launch often takes years.
The casinos are an integral part of these modern day palaces, but the services extend to all sorts of luxuries. The types that you would struggle to find within one establishment. Fine dining, nightclubs, premium hotels, spas, theatres, golf clubs and even waterparks and amusement parks. These are just some of the many types of exceptional leisurely and luxurious activities you can find in a premium casino resort.
Who Casino Resorts Are For
While the casino is at the heart of the resort, and most of these establishments are majorly financed through casino businesses, they are by no means exclusively for casino gamers. Visitors can have a great time using up all the services and exploring the facilities without even setting foot on the casino floor. Such is the diversity of the facilities and the size of these establishments. Casino resorts are multifaceted and include activities for guests of all ages, groups of any size, and to any and all tastes.
Here are just a few examples of different types of services you can expect to find in some of the biggest resorts on the Vegas Strip.
- Residency Comedy Acts
- Resort Golf Courses
- Night Clubs
- Spas and Wellness Facilities
- Waterparks and Pools
- Buffet and Dining Options
Logistics of Casino Resorts
There are several facets that investors have to consider with casino resorts, which boil down to aspects such as competition, target audience, and locational logistics. A lot of the decision making has to factor in the surroundings and what niche services or high end facilities will resonate best with the market. Casinos may generate a huge part of the resort's revenue, but so can the hotel, shopping outlets, entertainment venues and restaurants.
Inside Luxury Hospitality
The largest casino hotels have over 1,000 guest rooms, in high rise towers that stand out among the competition. There are luxury commodes that can service wealthier guests, as well as standard rooms that are more affordable for everyday tourists. You may be surprised at how inexpensive it is to book a hotel in one of the premier Atlantic City hotels or iconic resorts on the Vegas Strip.
From the front desk reception to the room service, quality of the hotel amenities, concierge service, and housekeeping, these resorts are designed to keep you in the utmost luxury. Whether you are interested in hitting some blackjack or not, the hotel stay is a treat in itself that doesn't necessarily break the bank.
Owners need to consider the target demographic who will stay at these hotels. Historic casino getaway destinations such as Las Vegas or Atlantic City typically draw from international and domestic markets. Regional casinos, on the other hand, usually see more local guests.
Expansive Entertainment Services and Facilities
In terms of entertainment, there is virtually nothing left to the imagination. There are casinos with theme parks, shopping outlets, golf courses, wellness centers and on-site theater venues. These can be offered at discounted prices to hotel guests, but for the most part, they are also open to the public. If you are staying at a casino resort down the Las Vegas Strip, you won't be turned away from entering the facilities at another casino resort. But you will need to pay the full price.
It is all a part of creating that vacation experience for guests and visitors. Casinos can have extensive spas and fitness centers for guests who want a relaxing getaway. Theme and arcade parks usually do very well with families or active groups who need excitement. But it is not all about pleasure either. Business delegations can go to a resort to take in a show or play leisurely rounds of golf.
Themed Resorts with Unique Perks
The majority of casino resorts are not standalone establishments but are part of a chain or entertainment franchise. Some of the most popular brands in the world include Caesars, BetMGM, Hard Rock, Wynn, Boyd Gaming and PENN Entertainment. But even they struggle with the competition and have to come up with unique ways to make their resorts stand out.
A solution is adopting a theme for a casino resort. For example, Caesars Palace is one of many casinos that adopts a theme from antiquity. As do the Bellagio, Casino de Monte Carlo or the Augustus Hotel and Resort. Other themes include Asian, Wild West, Parisian, Egyptian, Tropical/Exotic and Victorian themes.
In a lot of cases, these are not present in just the architecture, decor and furnishings alone. The resorts can build special amenities to highlight the theme, such as the canals and gondola rides at The Venetian. or, the Batman Dark Flight 4D Simulator at the DC Comics-themed Studio City in Macau.
The Core of the Resort: Casino Floor
Designing the casino is just as complicated as assembling the auxiliary and hospitality facilities in a resort. There are lots of key decisions to be made, from the layout to the number of games, variety of casino games, and whether or not the casino wants to include niche gambling products.
Grand Spaces and Lavish Surroundings
It is far more valuable to have a luxury casino in which guests can relax, enjoy themselves and play their favorite games hassle-free. The legends about casinos having labyrinthine aisles of slots, no windows or clocks, and pumping Oxygen into the rooms to keep gamers locked in and playing the games are not true in any of the established and well-maintained casinos. Their principal concern is to create an environment that gamers will enjoy coming back to, and possibly bring their peers to join in on the fun.
Cramming up every single square foot of casino floor space with slot machines is counterproductive. Instead, owners try to create quality spaces and leisurely environments for their patrons. The area needs to be convenient, in that patrons can easily find the cashiers, the games they want to play, and can exit the casinos without having to walk past hundreds of slot machines.
Slots
In terms of game variety, it is no secret that slot machines bring in the most revenue. Slots will take up the majority of the games at any casino resort, unless the theme lends specifically toward another type of game. Slot machines are easy to maintain, don't require a dealer, and can keep guests entertained.
Table Games
Table games are also hugely popular, but casinos do not have nearly as many tables as slot machines. This is also quite understandable as tables can usually accommodate up to 5 or 6 players instead of just 1. The most popular of these are blackjack, baccarat, roulette and craps.
Other Casino Games and Gambling Facilities
Sportsbooks are also in high demand at casinos. Especially when the casinos have gigantic HD screens and snacks nearby. Combine that with betting kiosks and parlay betting possibilities, and the sports fans will come running in.
Some casinos may extend their products with the inclusion of a high stakes area, or private rooms for exclusive tournaments. These areas are not for the casual gamer, but rather for experts who want to play serious games for big money.
Adding alternatives such as bingo halls, keno rooms and specialized poker rooms are good opportunities for resorts to distinguish themselves. Cracking niche gaming markets may not catch the attention of mainstream gamers, but they can solidify their position for any patron with exotic tastes.
Managing A Casino Resort
Everything from the casino to the hospitality and quality of the outlets must be kept in top shape. These services cannot be done without a huge staff. The casino itself needs constant surveillance, from the pit boss at the top to the dealers at the tables. Everyone is doing their bit to keep a smooth and flowing gaming environment.
Casino hosts are there to ensure the guests are having fun and that there is no criminal activity or misbehavior. They also answer your questions, order refreshments for you, and are there to service your needs.
This is the treatment you can expect throughout the casino resort. From the moment the concierge carries your bags to your hotel room, to the rewards points you get at the end of your stay. Ultimately, it is a tremendous and multifaceted operation that services hundreds, if not thousands, of guests every day.