Synergy Blue, the Las Vegas-based provider of skill-based and interactive gaming machines, platforms, and applications, has released a survey it conducted in late April on consumer opinions about casino gambling in a post-COVID world.
Synergy Blue polled 1,000 gamblers to better understand what they expect from casino operators in order to return to casinos, then produced the report, “The Path Forward for Casinos in a Post-COVID World.”
To attract 1,000 gamblers to fill out the online survey, Synergy Blue worked with a panel provider to create a random, voluntary and anonymous sample of respondents from across the U.S. The respondents were required to answer a qualifying question that confirmed that they gamble in casinos, ranging from those who gamble often to those who gamble less frequently.
The participants were queried about how their expectations have changed in the face of the multiple factors that will impact their return to casino floors, including concerns over safety issues, the experiences they now seek, the role the economy plays in their plans to return, and if their interest in online and mobile gambling will continue after social distancing.
While 51 percent of respondents said they’ll return to casinos once they reopen, the results also affirm the need for long-term changes.
In terms of health and safety, gamblers believe casinos need to take ongoing measures. The survey found that 56 percent of respondents said casinos need to permanently improve their health and safety standards following the pandemic.
“I believe that most casinos are already making adjustments and most will, because it’s critical, not only to the safety of casino guests, but also to the well-being of all gambling establishments,” commented Georg Washington, CEO of Synergy Blue. “By learning from successful tactics in places that are already beginning to reopen, we can ensure the health and safety of everyone and rebuild our industry.”
The report also uncovers a dynamic that has long been on the radar of casinos — that a shift in casino demographics may happen sooner than expected. Older gamblers are more hesitant about returning to casinos, though the results show that younger generations could accelerate casino recovery. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of younger gamblers (ages 29 and under) and more than half (56 percent) of those ages 30-45 say they’ll gamble in casinos again once stay-at-home orders have been lifted. Only 40 percent of respondents over age 60 said they would return.
Millennial and Gen X responses also point to declining interest in traditional slots. The survey found less than half (47 percent) of those 29 and under and 58 percent of 30- to 45-year-olds said slots would draw them back to casinos, compared to 69 percent of 45- to 60-year-olds and 73 percent of those 60 and older.
Of gamblers planning to return to casinos, 48 percent said their gambling spend would remain the same.
“We weren’t sure what to expect regarding gambling spend, but the findings show that most of those who return will spend the same — providing a little light at the end of the tunnel for operators,” Washington said.
Nearly one out of four respondents (23 percent) said that they would spend more at casinos than they did before the shutdowns.
“This was definitely an interesting result of the survey,” Washington said about the 23 percent who will increase their expenses. “It might point to how people haven’t been able to spend their usual travel, leisure and entertainment budgets, so when things open up, they’ll be eager to spend what they have not been able to.
Washington added, “It’s also important to note that only the respondents who are planning to return to casinos once they reopen were asked this question. So it’s clear that they’re interested in gambling and enjoy the experience.”
Additional findings from the report include:
- The majority of respondents (55 percent) said that a vaccine or a drastic reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases would make them want to return.
- Of those who are unsure about or not planning to return, 58 percent say it’s because they’re uneasy about the economy.
- Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) said they gambled online or played mobile games (pay to play/free to play) during the pandemic and of those, 93 percent said they will continue with online or mobile gambling once stay-at-home orders have been lifted.
- Sixty percent of respondents said that gaming machines would draw them back, with 42 percent citing restaurants and bars, 38 percent entertainment, and 35 percent table games.
- Thirty-five percent said they’ll go back to their usual casinos, with 29 percent citing discounts, rewards, and other specials as their biggest draws.
“We’re all in this together,” Washington said. “And together, we can rebuild our industry. “But in order to do that, we’ll need to reshape it to fit the changed preferences of our biggest supporters: the gamers and gamblers themselves.”
To download the full report, visit Synergy Blue’s website.
