Top 5 Eco-Friendly Casino Resorts in the World
Being environmentally friendly is good for business, in terms of both PR and saving money through efficiencies that reduce energy and other costs. Here are some of the casino resorts that are doing their part to protect the planet and the many ways in which they are doing so.
A Quintet of Very Green Casinos
Caesars Entertainment
Caesars is one of the most famous casino resorts in the world, inspired by the iconic architecture of Ancient Rome and offering distractions from shopping at the Forum to fantastic casino games (in addition to a wide range of restaurants). But there’s nothing old-fashioned about its approach to conservation and the environment.
As part of its Corporate Code of Commitment, the firm created CodeGreen in 2008 to raise awareness of and engagement with environmental issues among guests, suppliers, and employees. In 2021, Caesars set multiple goals with a green aim, including cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 100% by 2050 (with an interim target of a 35% reduction by 2025); cutting energy consumption by 40% by 2025 (on a 2007 baseline); cutting water consumption by 25% by 2025; and getting all new and expanded buildings to be LEED certified. There’s also an ambitious target to cut waste by 60% by 2025.
In addition to the targets for the future, Caesars has already managed to reduce water consumption by 14% through increasing use of low-flow shower heads, water conserving urinals, drought tolerant vegetation, and other measures. The firm has also partnered with Clean the World to recycle over 100,000 pounds of soap and bottled amenities per year.
Of course, another green alternative to picking an eco-friendly casino resort is to opt for a top online casino, such as Jackpot City Casino, one of the most trusted and accessible brands around the globe. Playing the best slots online doesn’t incur the transport-related pollution, let alone related resort infrastructure (lighting, air conditioning, and so on). And because online casinos have lower overheads, they can offer players a better chance of finishing in the black.
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Another top Las Vegas casino resort is Mandalay Bay, which provides a comprehensive entertainment package including performances by the likes of Cirque du Soleil and thousands of wonderful sea creatures that make their home within the Shark Reef Aquarium. Not to mention in excess of 1,200 slots in the casino, alongside classic table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette.
Mandalay Bay has also been hard at work shifting to renewable energy sources, including a huge solar panel array atop the convention center (the largest in the United States with more than 26,000 individual panels). In addition, the resort has cut energy consumption by use of variable speed drives on motors and pumps, and by changing light bulbs for modern LEDs. MGM, the resort’s owner, has goals for 2030 including a 50% reduction of carbon emission per square foot, using 30% less energy per square foot, and 75% materials diversion from landfill.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment
Located in the City of Dreams (Macao), Melco Resorts & Entertainment is a fully integrated resort that boasts sumptuous accommodation, global menus of varying culinary styles to suit every palate, and an expansive, modern gaming experience for those who like to have fun and see if Lady Luck is smiling on them. But how does it fare when considering the environmental side of things?
It’s quite literally award-winning. In September of 2021 the resort won the ‘Climate Change Initiative’ category at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards 2021 and was also named the ‘Sustainable Resort of the Year’ by the International Gaming Awards (IGA) 2021. The reason for this success was driven by the Above and Beyond sustainability strategy adopted by Melco Resorts & Entertainment, which aspires to both carbon neutrality and zero waste across all properties by 2030. It’s estimated that, post-pandemic, 107 tonnes of food waste will be reduced through the strategy, and efficiency measures in Macao and the Philippines have cut carbon by the equivalent scale of taking 5,286 cars off the road. In addition, the firm has ambitious goals to cut down on the use of harmful chemicals and single use plastics.
Sibaya Casino
South Africa’s Sibaya Casino is in a great spot, just minutes from King Shaka International Airport, with beautiful Indian Ocean views and surrounded by the verdant greenery of KwaZulu-Natal. Driven by the casino’s waste management expert, Rodney Moodley, the green approach has also been adopted by the business from the guest rooms to the kitchens. Gardeners love worms because their tunnels help to keep plants healthy. On a similar note, Moodley’s colleague Solomon created a wormery to act as an organic composter and thereby reduce kitchen waste.
Sun International, the owner of Sibaya Casino, has a Sustainability Strategy with objectives including the promotion of sustainable business methods throughout the firm, and fostering a culture dedicated to sustainability (backed up by direct board and executive level oversight and accountability) to deliver a change to behaviors.
The Venetian Macao
As a luxury hotel and casino resort, the Venetian Macao offers not only opulent surroundings to stay in and the thrill of casino games, but musical entertainment, retail therapy opportunities and a delicious array of culinary options to make a guest’s mouth water, from Jiangnan cuisine to Italian delights. But how does it stack up when it comes to being eco-friendly?
Pretty well, actually. In 2018 the Venetian Macao became the first hotel in Macao to win the Macao Green Hotel Platinum Award, the top designation possible. There are multiple criteria involved in this award, and the resort was honored after achieving year-on-year waste reduction, increasing spaces for electric vehicles, cutting engine pollution, and carrying out regular carbon audits. In the same year the Parisian Macao received the Gold Award, as did the Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip.
And that finishes our quintet of very green casino resorts, where guests can have a splendid holiday and some peace of mind that they are keeping their carbon footprint to a minimum.
