How Casinos are Going Green

Land-based casinos have long since been a concern in the fight against climate change and sustainability, from the 24/7 energy consumption to the carbon footprint laid down by travelling gamblers. In recent years, the gambling industry has taken significant steps in its contribution to the planet’s sustainability.

Sustainability

Sustainability is commonly evaluated based on the ESG Framework, which stands for Environment, Social, and Governance. Each of these elements has its own carbon footprint. Although sustainability is a complex issue, there are some key areas that the gambling industry can prioritize to become more sustainable:

Environment

The evolution of the casino industry over recent years has seen a steep increase in the number of online casino sites available. These online sites are able to offer thousands of online games, a competitive sports betting platform, and numerous live dealer tables all under one roof.

In addition to using renewable energy sources, online casinos are investing in cloud-based technology and energy-efficient software. This significantly reduces the industry’s carbon footprint through reduced fuel consumption and lower energy usage.

Land-based casinos are also ‘doing their bit’ for the environment by adopting eco-friendly products and investing in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Unused food is composted, products are sourced locally, straws and plastic cutlery have been eliminated, and food rescue programs have been introduced.

Social

The best online casinos will be licensed by trusted gaming authorities and provide protection tools for players to gamble responsibly. These tools include deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs, and enforced self-exclusion.

But it’s not just players who are at the top of the social agenda; responsible operators also promote inclusion and diversity for employees through recruitment, training, networking, health, and well-being. For the wider community, operators may sponsor local teams or ‘greener’ initiatives.

Governance

For their members to gamble sustainably, casino operators need to ensure the transparency of their finances, policies, and procedures. For acknowledgement of its contribution to the wider community, the casino brand must comply with its tax reporting duties.

Responsible casinos will provide clear procedures for registration and account activation. Stringent checks are completed to verify a player’s age and identity, and there are strict policies in place to prevent money laundering and corruption activities.

With the movement of verification checks being carried out online as opposed to paper documentation, casinos are positively contributing to the climate crisis. All licensed sites utilise encryption technology to protect sensitive data and financial information.

Going Green

Leading the way for a greener planet are responsible casinos that have implemented a variety of eco-friendly measures and who have earned the right to display ‘Green Gaming’ certification for their efforts in reducing the planet’s carbon footprint. There is always room for growth, but many operators within the gambling industry are contributing towards a ‘greener’ path for the future of gaming through the introduction of positive, eco-friendly practices.