Which is The Eco-Friendly Option? Physical vs Online Casinos

As the trend of sustainability is gradually ramping up across all industries, this is also occurring in the casino and sportsbook industries. When comparing modern approaches to mitigating overall impacts on the environment it is possible to highlight the key differences between physical gambling venues and online casinos. Environmentalism in the casino context is not something players generally think about as entertainment is what comes to mind first and foremost, but the environmental impact between different kinds of casinos differs significantly and is worth considering. So, read on to take a closer look at the two and see which is more sustainable.

Online Casinos

Online casinos offer a range of benefits to their players. Many enjoy activities from fun slot games to competitive poker tables and more. But, how do they measure up in terms of sustainability?

Data Centres

Online casinos such as Betway are operated using extensive facilities and where extensive utilization of power is carried out in large data centers. All these data centers contain the information required to provide online gaming services, transactions and even the safeguarding of players’ accounts. Admittedly, such facilities do use power. Today, however, some of the data centers have adopted new energy sources such as wind and solar energy in their facility construction. This shift means that they are able to lower their impact on the environment in terms of carbon emissions and are also able to use more sustainable energy.

Player Electricity Usage

Of course, one must also consider the energy that is used by players but the effects on the environment by the online casinos are nearly negligible. These platforms are accessed by players via smartphones, laptops or tablets which are devices that players already interact with regularly. For example, in many instances, the consumer would be using these devices for other forms of entertainment apart from playing games and gambling; for instance, watching videos, browsing through social media platforms and so on. What this means is that the environmental (energy) cost of gaming is marginal, and does not translate into overall contribution to electricity consumption. Due to the limited usage of electricity in the house as well as social and infrastructural impacts, it means that online casinos like Betway are way environmentally friendly.

Travel

The major environmental advantage of online casinos is that an individual does not have to travel. Most of the times, patrons are forced to drive or even fly several miles to get to a traditional physical casino and this brings about pollution. This is particularly the case where many tourists come by air such as in the case of casino destinations like Las Vegas or Macau. Since Betway players can choose the games they wish to play online they can remain at home thus cutting down their carbon footprint significantly.

Environmental Initiatives

In general, there is less environmental impact in online casinos as compared to land-based casinos Still, some of them are optimizing their sustainability efforts through what is called ‘carbon offsetting initiatives’. These include reforestation and tree planting initiatives, renewable energy investments, green energy credits or certificates and last but not least, sustainable infrastructure.

Physical Casinos

On the other hand, there are also physical casinos to consider. Here’s what you should know about the CEO friendliness of physical casinos.

Crowds of People

Physical casinos are retail operations that are colorful in nature and have the ability to bring together massive crowds at one venue, for long hours. The people who flood these casinos are those who are spirited with excitable emotions and, understandably, may not have environmental consciousness at the forefront of their minds when enjoying their night out.

Furthermore, recreation facilities especially those situated in regions with high traffic of tourists are challenged more in measuring and controlling the amount of impact their clients make on the environment. Apart from waste, the flow of pedestrian traffic and large crowds put pressure on the ground; thus, structures need frequent rehabilitation and redevelopment through incurring further environmental impacts.

Energy Consumption

Perhaps the most obvious environmental effect of physical casinos is in terms of energy usage. The popular flashy and bright neon signs outside the casinos together with extravagant light shows mean that casinos are highly dependent on electricity unlike a Betway online casino for example. Apart from lighting, space heating and cooling or air conditioning, the range of games machines and other utilities demand energy incessantly. This consumption is boosted by the fact that most of the physical casinos are generally operating round-the-clock without any interruption implying that they use a significant amount of energy, more so than other establishments that operate during a business day.

Surrounding Infrastructure

You might also find that physical casinos bring complex consequences to the host communities especially on the infrastructural front due to extensive infrastructural transformation. Because of tourism, there is always a need for a large parking space for the cars of the visitors, more space for roads and needed structures such as hotels and resorts. Such changes result in the shrinking of the green areas and can result in serious consequences for the environment of the area. The spaces that were previously either family or oriented toward nature mainly become sections filled with the lines of tall buildings and entertainment centers.

The Most Eco-Friendly?

After comparing both physical and online casinos taking into consideration the effect that they have on the environment, it is easy to conclude that online casinos are more friendly to the environment than their physical counterparts are. They use less energy, are not affected by transport challenges and generate much less waste as compared to traditional venues.