Casinos' Possible Growth in the Future

The exact origin of gambling is truly unknown.

When we look at the twenty-first century, it seems apparent that there will be an increase in the number of casino venues, and the introduction of more casino games.

In 1993, Americans wagered at least $3 billion in gambling. Preliminary reviews for 1994 indicate that there was an increase in wagering.

The future trend of the casino industry is definitely one of its growth.

Especially within the Muslim countries, religion will continue to play an important role in determining whether gambling will be permitted.

But it is unlikely that these Muslim countries will change their positions on gambling.

As we all know, casinos do not exist in a vacuum. Their success or demise is a factor of many social realities.

It is important to note that people are living longer, working fewer hours, and retiring earlier; hence, they have more leisure time.

Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of three and four-day weekends. This abundance of leisure time enables the average citizen to use it in a variety of ways.

The casino industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. In the United States, in 1992 it was estimated that at least 92 million Americans visited a casino establishment to gamble.

This statistic surpasses the number of persons attending a Broadway, symphony, and arena concerts.

Demographically, the average age of the aforementioned gamblers was forty-five years. Fifty percent of them were white collar, with an almost equal amount of blue collar and retired persons. These individuals had a higher level of education than the average population.

Approximately 55 percent of them had attended college, which was higher than the nation's average of 48 percent. Casino patrons had a median income of $38,600 which was higher than the population's average.

Historically, legalized gambling was conducted only in Nevada in the West, and for a long time only in Atlantic City in the East.

Now, it is possible to engage in legalized casino gambling in almost any state. Individuals wishing to gamble now have greater accessibility to a range of gambling.

By the turn of the century, gambling will be available to most Americans within a two-hour drive.

The gamblers of the next decade may be different in many ways. Most of us do believe that casino patrons of the future will be younger, and have an even higher level of college education.

The casino patrons of the future will be a product of the 'now generation'. Most probably, conditioned by the tri-media to obtain instant, or almost immediate gratification.

Where else can financial gratification to be obtained legally? In the casinos, of course.