Gambling Tourism - Combination of Travel and Gaming Sectors
What is Gambling Tourism?
Gambling tourism is a combination of the travel and gaming sectors, covering those players who visit places specifically to gamble as well as the industries which support those players. Casino hotel resorts play a big role in gambling tourism, attracting visitors for a well-rounded and entertaining vacation that includes gambling, entertainment and more. Gambling tourism also covers players who visit another location to gamble because they are restricted from playing in their home nation or state.
Gambling Tourism Explained
‘Gambling tourism’ refers to players that travel in order to gamble, and also to the industry enabling this travel. Gambling can be a very appealing feature of a location, attracting plenty of visitors who want to play at the casinos. For example, Las Vegas attracts millions of visitors every year who head there specifically for the purpose of gambling. These ‘gambling tourists’ are catered for with hotel resorts, bars, restaurants, entertainment and more at gaming venues, encouraging these visitors to make their gaming trip into a comprehensive vacation.
While players often travel for the fun of gambling in a new location, others may do so because they cannot access gambling at home. Many nations have completely outlawed gambling, and it is not available in a large number of US states either. If a person wishes to partake in gambling, they will need to travel to a place where gaming is legal. These ‘gambling tourists’ are an important part of the gaming economy.
Most gambling tourists come to a location from a foreign territory (UK to Vegas or France to Monte Carlo, for example), but some places benefit more from domestic gambling tourism. In Macau, the world’s most lucrative gaming market, many players travel to play from the Chinese mainland because gambling is outlawed there.
In the modern world, gambling tourism for legal reasons is becoming slightly less common, because players can use computers and private networks to access gambling services online – even when access to those services is prohibited. However, gambling tourism for leisure is still a thriving business, especially in the Asian gaming markets where most casinos are required by law to offer entertainment and hotel services.
Many gamblers will travel to attend their favorite real money casinos, will make a vacation out of a trip to a gambling city, or will head out of their own jurisdiction to visit places where gambling is legal. Some players travel to experience different casinos around the globe. Others visit places where casinos are legal because they cannot gamble in their home town or country.
Casinos will often target tourists, establishing entire resorts so players never have to leave their premises. From VIP suites to high-end restaurants, these luxury casino resorts often include entertainment and other leisure facilities. Including features that please tourists will increase the time those tourists spend at the tables – and therefore boost profits for the real money casino. Casinos often give away their services to players who spend a lot at their tables. Free hotel rooms, meals and drinks are all popular with tourists.