The opportunity to travel is one of life’s great pleasures. People choose to venture to new destinations for all kinds of reasons, from sightseeing and cultural immersion to shopping and visiting loved ones. In recent years, a growing number of travellers have taken trips for the main purpose of gaming at a casino resort.
Casino tourism is now a major sector of global travel. The casino tourism market was valued at an estimated size of $54.67 billion dollars in 2022 and it is projected to see a sharp increase, rising as high as $79.22 billion dollars in 2032.
There are many factors that influence demand for this type of travel, including legislative changes, technological advancements and changes in consumer behavior. In this article, we explore the booming market that is casino tourism, looking at the factors impacting the industry’s growth, some of the top casino tourism hotspots and what the future may hold for this industry.
The growing online casino market
Over the last couple of decades, the online casino market has emerged and quickly evolved into a high growth, highly competitive industry with hundreds of casino sites available for players to enjoy from the comfort and convenience of their own homes. If you are looking for more information on playing at online real money casinos in Canada or a definition of online slots Canada, this page tells you all you need to know.
Players can now access all the classic casino games, such as slots, poker and blackjack instantly on their smartphone. Technological advancements have now paved the easy for livestream casino gaming, which combines the convenience of remote gaming with the authenticity and immersion that player in real-time with a human (live streamed) dealer provides.
As a new generation has been introduced to the exciting casino world through the internet, many also want to experience the glamour and excitement that land-based casino resorts provide.
Casino tourism’s growing popularity
So, online casino platforms have new players intrigued about the world of casino gaming and made them eager to have the experience in-person. Casino destinations are generally opulent venues that offer a very high-end experience, the casino floor sits within a resort with fine-dining restaurants, finely decorated bars and designer shopping outlets.
While online casinos have a great range of games, they can not fully replicate this in-person experience.
Many of those that go on a casino vacation and doing so with luxury in mind and have high budgets to cater for their high-end tastes. They may combine their casino experience with day trips, sightseeing adventures, retail therapy, theatre shows, food tours and other exhilarating forms of entertainment.
The boom of this industry has some substantial positive impacts on the local economy in the areas around these resorts. Firstly, the resorts provide an influx of job opportunities, from construction and planning to hospitality and catering roles. Other hotels and tourist sights in the area see a boost in visitor numbers too.
Increased tax revenue provided by casino taxation can benefit local residents with more funds to invest in local infrastructure, roads, community projects, education and the like.
Key destinations for casino travel
There are a number of key destinations for casino tourism around the world and many of these locations are seeing a steady increase in visitor numbers year on year.
Las Vegas
The most famous example is Las Vegas in Nevada, United States.
Sin City is home to some of the largest and most impressive casino resorts in the world, including the Bellagio and Caesars Palace. There is also the Mandalay Bay. Here, people can enjoy all kinds of entertainment, live events and fine dining experiences as way as all the casino games they could possibly want to play.
Monaco
Over in Europe, Monaco is another great casino hotspot for tourists. Here, it is all about elegance, luxury and charm with many of the world’s richest people, celebrities and even royalty coming to experience the grandeur of the Monte Carlo casino.
Macau
In Asia, Macau is the centre of casino gaming and has some impressive resorts with extraordinary facilities. Many people come to experience the premium retail outlets as well as the casino tables and extensive gaming machines on offer.
TV and film have provided inspiration to travellers
From thrillers with charming characters like James Bond to comedies such as The Hangover, casino resorts have featured in the storylines of many blockbuster hits and television shows. These on-screen examples illustrate the fun and drama of casino gaming and inspire people to travel to the filming locations and experience it for themselves.
What’s next for the industry?
Technological advancements are shaping and improving what casinos have to offer. Furthermore, more countries like Canada are adapting their legislation to less a less prohibitive stance of casino gambling, giving the industry the opportunity to continue to grow and thrive in the years ahead.
