Casinos are synonymous with bright lights, buzzing slot machines, and round-the-clock entertainment, but behind the glamour lies a staggering environmental cost. Research by an online gaming portal reveals that a typical land-based casino uses around 15,070 kWh of electricity per day—an amount that could charge over one million smartphones or power a home for nearly two months.
As we covered in a previous post, this type of energy use falls under scope two emissions—indirect emissions from purchased electricity. While the emissions may not be generated on-site, they are still a direct result of the casino’s energy consumption. Slot machines, lights, air conditioning, and other equipment contribute to the industry’s massive carbon footprint.
In response, some casino operators are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact. For instance, MGM Resorts has invested in 323,000 solar panels, allowing its Las Vegas properties to run 90% of daytime operations on solar power. Beyond switching to renewable energy forms, the rise of internet gaming is helping to push the gambling industry toward a more sustainable future. Here’s how:
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Shifting to virtual online tables
Major poker tournaments, such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP), still take place in traditional casino settings, with professional and amateur players flying in from around the world. However, aviation is a major contributor to global emissions, producing roughly one billion tons of CO2 per year. Air travel generates 100 times more CO2 per hour than shared modes of transportation like buses or trains, making it one of the most polluting aspects of in-person poker tournaments.
By contrast, online poker eliminates the need for travel altogether. Rather than flying to a different location to take part in high-stakes games, poker players can simply go online to find trusted poker providers. For example, ACR Poker hosts prestigious online tournaments such as the Venom Tournament, which features a $12 million prize pool and attracts players from over 70 countries—all without anyone needing to board a plane. Shifting to virtual poker tables helps cut industry-wide emissions. In fact, research published in Nature Communications found that the average internet user’s digital consumption generates about 229 kg of CO2 per year—a fraction of what a single international flight produces.
Moreover, online poker in the US is expanding through multi-state gaming agreements. In 2024, BetMGM received authorization from the Michigan Gaming Control Board to allow shared liquidity for online poker between Michigan and New Jersey. This means players from both states can now compete against each other in a larger online poker ecosystem, reducing the need for physical casino visits while enhancing the competitive experience.
Supporting and funding environmental causes
The commercial gambling sector is also taking steps to support environmental initiatives. One notable example is Hard Rock International, which has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and participated in the Earth Hour movement. On March 25, 2023, more than 135 of the company’s casinos, hotels, and cafes around the world turned off their lights for one hour at 8:30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change. This event marked Hard Rock’s most successful Earth Hour activation to date, conserving more energy than in any previous year.
Aside from supporting energy conservation efforts, gaming companies are also incorporating environmentalism into gameplay. In Australia, Hawke’s Brewing Co. launched a bespoke gaming machine designed to donate 100% of its revenue to environmental causes. The game allows players to win small prizes, such as food and merchandise from the venue’s Lucky Prawn Chinese Restaurant. However, when a player hits the “jackpot,” the total prize amount is donated to a local environmental group. Players can even opt to donate their winnings directly to the cause.
To further reinforce its sustainability efforts, the Game for Good is partially powered by solar energy, sourced from Hawke’s 100kW rooftop solar farm, one of the largest in Sydney’s inner west.
Investing in greener operations
As the introduction mentions, solar power is a key method casinos use to be more efficient in energy usage. However, more can be done for sustainable day-to-day operations, such as building green roofs, using harvested rainwater for toilet flushing, and incorporating materials like reclaimed wood and low-VOC paints for construction. Waste management, in particular, should be a focus among casinos, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes that Sin City produces more than five billion pounds of waste per year, including food waste, which ends up in landfills. With its sustainability goals, Wynn Las Vegas has managed to divert 41% of resort ways from landfills by recycling on behalf of its guests. Aside from reducing the availability of single-use plastics, their resorts have invested in trained employees and expert partners to manage hand-separate recycling, compost, and reusables – even recycling more than 4,000 pounds of soap from guest rooms, which they donated to Clean the World. This organization provides essential hygiene products to at-need individuals.
Another critical area to revisit would be transportation. With almost 120,000 vehicles passing Las Vegas highways daily, public transit should be improved, and ride-sharing should be encouraged for employees and guests alike. Efforts from Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Hotel and San Diego’s Barona Resort and Casino should be considered, with Mohegan providing electric vehicle charging stations on their property and 20 mountain bikes for security personnel to use; the latter cut down gas and vehicle maintenance costs while increasing staff fitness and public interaction. On the other hand, Barona rolled out free shuttle services with low-emission, luxury motorcoach busses fitted with accessible handicap lifts. These efficient vehicles emit less carbon dioxide per passenger mile and can remove 56 automobiles from local roads, reducing congestion.
Data collection and analysis are critical to finding and investing in the right sustainable solutions. Casinos should create monitoring systems for energy and water usage, food waste, visitor traffic, air quality, and the like to accurately identify wasteful pain points and improve on these in their operations.
As more casinos and gaming operators recognize their environmental responsibilities, we can expect a continued push toward greener gaming practices. Whether through solar-powered casinos, sustainable gaming machines, or expanding online gambling opportunities, the industry has the potential to redefine entertainment in an eco-conscious way.
If you found this article interesting, visit the EcoFreek website for more eco-friendly tips and educational content on sustainability.