The new mission for casino operators: Look less like casinos.
New developments, including one planned by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, tout their outdoor spaces and amenities. Older gaming halls are remodeling to add natural light, upscale restaurants and gathering places like bowling alleys.
The new options are designed to shed local casinos’ traditional, dark-and-smoky reputations. In particular, they’re targeting a generation of newly legal gamblers who have gotten used to doing everything, including betting, with clicks and swipes from the convenience of their living rooms.
Even though Gen Zs are more likely to gamble than their Gen X parents and baby boomer grandparents, they’re less likely to do so at physical casinos and sportsbooks, according to a 2025 survey by the credit reporting agency TransUnion. Instead, they’re placing their bets digitally.
