If I were the owner and operator of a casino, it would be the most amazing thing ever. That’s it, that’s the article.
Alright, all jokes aside, if somewhere down the road I am given the chance to infuse some of my own ideas into the actual daily operation of a casino, there are definitely some things that I would do differently. I’m talking approachable table minimums, quick drinks, and more real time communication to guests that may be experiencing an issue during their visit.
Before we jump into my official wishlist, I want to talk briefly about the general feel of my imaginary property. I want to create a casino that isn’t devoid of personality. I want to lean into colors, trends coupled with timeless staples, natural light, and inviting common spaces that allow for a breather before hitting the floor again. We’ll play pop-punk and 90’s alternative during the day and switch exclusively to Kesha and Charli XCX after 8PM. Gin martinis will be flowing, as will the coffee, and guests are encouraged to chat it up with the team. Oh, and if you’re an angry gambler that is prone to button slapping or speaking rudely to the aforementioned team- you’re 86’ed.
Read on to see what else I would add to my Courtney Casino and let me know your ideas in the comments!
$5 Blackjack
First off, I am a BIG believer in $5 blackjack. I think it is both beneficial to the property and the guest. For the property, $5 tables help bring people in the door and fill up tables that might otherwise be empty. For the gamblers, $5 tables take the pressure off every bet while still allowing them to press their units if they want to increase their risk.
This wish is pretty self serving, when I first moved to Vegas I was able to play $5 blackjack for hours on end. My husband and I would pull up to Rampart Casino, sometimes three times a week, to snag a seat with our favorite dealer at their $5 table. This table was so popular that we’d often get there before 6PM to make sure we could get two seats together.
Unfortunately after 2020, both the $5 table and Cell, our favorite dealer, were nowhere to be found. A lot of the more affordable and approachable tables across The Valley went to the wayside after the Pandemic when most casinos, in my opinion, really started to prioritize profits over experience.
(If anyone reading this knows Cell from Rampart, please tell him the tall redhead and the doctor say “hi.” I do know he is OK, we asked about him frequently until someone could give us a mini update.)
Coffee Bars
In a recent article I broke down my affinity for drink stations. I would like to up the ante in my imaginary operation by offering a wider variety of caffeine options. Instead of just offering regular and decaf coffee, I would like to kick up the appreciation with ice coffee, fancy creamers, and maybe even cute coffee stir sticks that relate to gambling.
Of course, I know that many casinos feature coffee shops, hoping to capture more revenue as players pass- I’ve actually opened more than a few in my day. Instead of inviting guests to purchase their favorite caffeinated beverage, my imaginary operation would put guest sentiment above profit margins. Within reason, I’d reward my players for their loyalty whenever presented with the opportunity.
Note: I do think that if you gave me enough time, I could balance a P&L (profit and loss) sheet to both account for the actual coffee beans and appease the beans counters.
Ordering at Slots
While I haven’t been able to test this out for myself, there are some casinos that have technology that enables guests to order drinks at their slot machines while they are playing.
I would not only like to see this more widely implemented, even if a betting threshold needs to be met, but expanded to feature food options and more elaborate drinks. There is something wildly appealing to me about being able to order a dirty (gin) martini and cheeseburger while chasing some digital Buffalo.
To make the experience even more enjoyable, I would like to seamlessly tie in a person’s food and beverage promotional offers. Easily allowing guests to be able to redeem their earned perks is one of the easiest ways to retain their loyalty.
Note: If this was implemented, I’d also double up on the house keeping staff responsible for keeping the floor tidy. This idea sounds great as a player, but a dirty nightmare for the actual operators….
Estimated Wait Times for Attendants
I get pretty agitated whenever I have to wait for other people. It might be the East Coaster in me, wanting to get things done as quickly as possible, or it could be that I am just an inpatient person. Either way, I think all casino guests could benefit from an estimated wait time display after they press “Call Attendant.”
This could help diffuse situations like when an agitated guest wants to cash out but there is a printer jam. If a message pops up that says something like “thanks for letting us know about an issue. Our team will be with you in <3 minutes>,” guests would know that the casino is aware and someone is on their way.
What’s On Your Wishlist?
What do you think casinos should offer? Share in the comments, and with any luck, maybe the casinos will see it and pick up your best ideas!
Hi Courtney, I would come to your casino in a heartbeat! Loved your ideas, especially ordering drinks from a slot machine, being able to get a timed response when an attendant will be available, and lower bets on card tables. I was recently playing at a 3 card poker table, $10 bets. Used to be $5.00 bets most of the day, then up to $10 late afternoon. Now it’s usually $10 during the day, and on a quiet Monday afternoon-they went up to $15 at 4pm, that’s crazy! Even so many slots are now penny machines or up to $1.00 and $5.00 machines, it’s tough to find quarter machines…Much harder to spend a day gambling without a big bankroll. Oh well, Courtney I guess you have to get on it and open a place we can all come to!
I would come to that casino as well! Would the ability to order at the machine also include the option to have the order follow you if you use your player card and switch machines?
We’ve actually seen this working at some casinos, so it makes sense to have that!