Gambling destinations around the world are revaluating their priorities. While they still aim to offer a quality gambling experience, operators are looking to offer more family-friendly experiences for non-gamblers. That’s exactly what James Packer plans to do with his new Studio City Casino in Macau. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the new $3.2 billion casino resort will feature several attractions for families.
The casino operator will be working with Warner Bros and DC Entertainment to feature comic book and cartoon characters in various attractions.
"Studio City will radically enhance and diversify Macau's evolving leisure experiences as Melco Crown Entertainment works to anticipate, innovate and ultimately satisfy the ever-growing needs of the region's and world's leisure destination visitors," says Lawrence Ho, Chief Executive of Melco Crown. One of the major attractions will be a 130-tall Ferris Wheel called the Golden Eye.
The Verge also notes that will also be a Batman virtual reality ride called ‘Batman Dark Flight’. People on the ride will be able to fly through Gotham City as he takes down some of his most notorious villains. Wonder Woman go karts are another fun attraction that offer up a family-fun experience. These are all attractions that will draw families to the casino complex, and they will also appeal to adult visitors who are non-gamblers.
In addition to offering up a family-friendly experience, this shift in focus also reduces the venue’s reliance of high roller gamblers. This is important when aiming to reduce corruption and crime rates at casinos. There has recently been a crackdown on corruption, and casino operators must start looking for ways to earn revenue without rely on gambling.
James Packer and Melco Crown seem to have the right idea, and it may influence other operators to take up similar strategies.