Locally sourced ingredients to feed casino goers
To put it bluntly, the casino industry earns huge revenues every year. The US gambling industry was worth $240 billion in 2014, but a casino’s revenue goes beyond its patrons losing bets on roulette or the spare change in the slot machines.
Some casino operators continue finding ways to revolutionize the whole casino experience by making gaming accessible on mobile platforms. By improving site aesthetics and placing a greater emphasis on gaming through renowned mobile-friendly sites have been able to increase their traffic tenfold. Others are still stuck on the psychological implications of the gaming floor. Forget the psychology behind the layout of a casino. It’s about maximizing non-gaming casino revenue, and one of the most effective ways of creating a positive experience for the customer is with a nice selection of restaurants.
But it’s not enough to just have a standard restaurant, as consumer interests are growing more complex by the minute. Over the past few years, people have increasingly grown conscious of the food they’ve been eating. They’re now looking for quality, ethically produced food, and numerous casinos across the US have partnered with restaurants that serve customers fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
A prime example of such a restaurant is the Isle Casino located in Pompano Beach. Their restaurant Farmer’s Pick Buffet was remodeled a few years back and features a menu made from ingredients grown right from the casino’s garden. The one-acre garden was created in 2011, and whatever ingredients the chefs can’t get from the casino’s backyard, they purchase from vendors and farms within a 300-mile radius.
Upstate Tavern in Verona’s Turning Stone Resort and Casino is all about being local. Prepared with only the freshest local ingredients, the menu boasts American classics that are made from scratch. Not only do they source their ingredients locally whenever possible, but they’re also huge fans of local brews.
The Kitchen Buffet in the Kansas Star Hotel and Casino is a place for the hungry and ethical eater. Using locally sourced food, the restaurant takes its patrons on an international culinary experience, serving dishes from various cuisines, setting “the kitchen standard for the all-you-can-imagine dining experience.”
Although there haven’t been any studies in how truly effective sustainable restaurants are in drawing in casino patrons, sourcing food locally is a good practice to implement in a casino environment.