The Environmental Impact of Casinos: Can A Transition to Online Casinos Help?

Casinos are known for their glitz and glamour, but underneath it all lies a massive environmental footprint. A typical casino uses 15,070 kWh of electricity per day, which is enough to charge one million smartphones. The power used to operate a casino for two hours and 24 minutes can keep a bank running for 48 hours.

Water is also a crucial resource for casinos, but casino hotspots like Las Vegas have taken significant measures to conserve it. Limits on swimming pool sizes have been enforced, and a ban on new ornamental water features at resort hotels has also been considered. Even traveling to and from casinos can contribute to pollution.

With these environmental issues becoming increasingly concerning, players are looking toward online casinos as a solution that may pave the way for greener gaming. Though it isn’t without its impacts, it’s seen as less resource-intensive than visiting a brick-and-mortar casino. 

Reduced resource consumption

Casinos use a lot of resources in a short amount of time, and it can be difficult to employ eco-friendly measures due to the scale of the operations. While green initiatives like increasing the use of solar power in places like MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Las Vegas are being pushed, there’s still much more progress to be made for a more sustainable experience.

There’s also the issue of pollution that comes with travel, as gaming hubs all over the world encourage people to drive or fly in to play. Online casinos allow people to enjoy gaming from their devices, allowing them to stay home and play on their own terms.

This can control the number of people playing at the establishment, allowing casinos to scale back the resources they’re using to keep machines, lights, air conditioning, and other utilities and equipment running. Transitioning to online platforms can also allow casinos to reduce waste. Traveling is also no longer necessary, as people can play anywhere and anytime without driving or flying, lowering emissions. 

New competitive experiences to attract and retain players

Aside from the reduced resource consumption of operating and visiting traditional casinos, online casinos also draw in players with unique competitive experiences that land-based establishments don’t offer. These perks make the transition to online casinos more appealing to players, lowering the environmental impact by encouraging people to try out games at home. 

Technology helps ensure fairness and security while playing online. Leading poker provider America’s Card Room utilizes a random number generator to ensure every hand dealt is random and unbiased. The reshuffle feature also prevents players from revealing their folded cards by seamlessly mixing them into the deck after folding, maintaining the game’s natural integrity.

Other perks like big welcome bonuses and the Elite Benefits Program allow players to start earning rewards from their first day of playing. By offering incentives for poker enthusiasts to play mainly online, casinos don’t have to operate at full capacity the entire day. 

Sustainable internet habits

Playing online still has an environmental impact, particularly regarding energy consumption, carbon emissions, and electronic waste. However, it’s also easier for players to take their own measures to reduce their footprint while playing on online casinos. Players should educate themselves on eco-friendly measures that can reduce their impact while playing online.

Our “Tips for Sustainable Internet Habits” post lists helpful tips that users can apply daily. Simple tips like removing unnecessary tabs, limiting streaming times, and checking a website’s emissions can help them play more sustainably. Adjustments to the home, like smart plugs and solar panels, can also reduce energy consumption. Even the payment methods players use for deposits and withdrawals may help reduce emissions. 

Cryptocurrency has become a popular payment option for gaming and betting thanks to security, lower fees, and transparency, but it has also been notoriously energy-hungry.

However, some cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, cut energy usage by over 99% in 2022 by transitioning from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. It also decreases in volatility in response to large changes in electricity consumption. Sustainable gaming and internet habits can allow players to manage their consumption and emissions at home.

Visit Green City Times for more tips and insights on sustainability.