Casino game manufacturer Synergy Blue recently commissioned research called “The Path Forward For Casinos In A Post Covid World.” Some research is better than others. Being a cynic I always look to see who was involved with the information I’m reading.
Sometimes research can favor the company paying for the information. That’s usually not the most reliable information. I went straight to the “methodology” at the end of the paper to see if this would automatically be slanted towards Synergy Blue. If you take the methodology description at face value this should be a balanced survey.
“Synergy Blue surveyed over 1,000 gamblers in late April 2020. This survey was completed online and responses were random, voluntary, and anonymous.” Online surveys aren’t always accurate but in a world of staying at home, it’s what we have to use. Having said that, there is some useful information when it comes to playing blackjack when casinos reopen.
Machines Prefered To Table Games
A couple of weeks ago I posed the question of whether you’d rather play blackjack games against a live dealer or a machine. This research of 1,000 people says that just over half (51%) of the people visiting casinos when they reopen will gamble.
60% of the respondents said that slot games/video gambling devices are the casino experience most will most likely bring them back to casinos. Only 35% said table games would be the casino experience that will bring them back to the casino to gamble.
Electronic Table Games and Stadium blackjack fall into the “slot games/video gambling devices.” Traditional live dealer blackjack falls under the “table games” portion of this survey.
This research isn’t very surprising. Casinos aren’t the easiest businesses to keep clean. Table games have many more moving parts than machines. There isn’t an easy way to keep table games relatively clean between other players and dealers touching cards and chips.
The only touchpoints on a machine are the screen and buttons. A player can wipe down both surfaces when sitting at a machine so it’s easy to understand that more gamblers would lean this direction. Casino staff will have to clean the table games and their parts.
More Reasons To Visit Casinos
There’s a very good chance that you’re a gambler if you’re reading a website with blackjack news and information. However, there are other reasons to visit a casino. Before casinos in Las Vegas closed, I would eat and drink in a bar or restaurant two to four times a week.
I’ll get back to drinking and dining in casinos soon but not as often at first. According to this research, more than four of every 10 visitors (43%) to casinos will return for the restaurants and bars. I can go to restaurants right now. However, I’ll let others visit first to let me know how the experience is. So far, after a couple of days, everything seems okay.
Many people used to visit casinos for entertainment. Only 38% of the people surveyed said they will visit for entertainment. There aren’t specifics as to what that entertainment will be but most shows won’t return right away.
During a recent earnings call, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said he didn’t expect to see large events with an audience at T-Mobile Arena for awhile. When MGM Resorts does bring back entertainment he expects smaller shows like Carrot Top to return first.
Smaller properties like locals casinos might have some lounge acts soon but I can’t imagine they’ll be offering too much entertainment as soon as they open.
