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26 September 2026
Global casino operators are reshaping destinations. In New York, a Hard Rock Casino is planned with 20 percent gaming, 15 acres of public park, and a live-music venue. In Singapore, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World have hosted 250 million visitors since 2010 with casino gaming as an amenity, and Macau has shifted from a gaming-focused territory to a diversified entertainment hub. Global destinations are now equipping casinos with food, shows, and parks to attract tourists and leisure visitors into a broader tourism ecosystem, with gaming playing a supporting—yet still important—role.
Since the pandemic, tourism has both rebounded and transformed. Outbound travel worldwide is up 18 percent from 2022 according to the World Tourism Organization. The leading outbound markets remain the U.S., Germany, the UK, China, and France, but Eastern Europe, India, and Southeast Asia are showing strong growth. World leaders in international visitors include Singapore, Hong Kong, and France, with the U.S. and Japan reporting significant gains over the past two years, according to data from Euromonitor International.
Non-gaming amenities and accessibility are key to attracting today’s global travelers. In the U.S., regional casino operators are expanding offerings including dining, entertainment, outdoor spaces, hotels, spas, and sports venues in response to digital betting trends and rising demand for varied traveler experiences, says Propmodo.
Penn Entertainment invested $380 million to renovate the Hollywood Casino and Hotel in Aurora, Illinois, adding dining, murals, and a sportsbook designed as an upscale local hangout rather than a traditional casino floor. Gun Lake Casino Resort in Michigan recently added a spa, pool, and 14-story hotel.
Shifting preferences are driving change: 44% of U.S. men aged 18 to 49 now use services like DraftKings or FanDuel, but Gen Z bettors typically start with online sportsbooks before visiting physical casinos. When they do visit in person, Gen Z visitors to Las Vegas attend shows more often than they gamble, says Propmodo.
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Casinos are adapting by curating entertainment, dining, and public spaces that serve as travel destinations as well as gaming hubs. Unlike casino-only experiences, entertainment and events encourage tourists to stay longer and spend beyond gaming. Growing global tourism in cities supports this model, as demand could center around entertainment districts featuring casinos, malls, and events.
Asia-Pacific destinations reported a 15% rise in international arrivals in Q1 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 90% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, Travel and Tour World noted. In Europe, Paris, London, and Warsaw are seeing growth in outbound tourism and cultural tourism activities.
Singapore’s approach is influencing Japan’s integrated resort plans. Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, opened in 2010, have evolved into hospitality hubs featuring dining, events, and shows. Singapore’s regulations include entry fees for residents, limits on gaming floor space, and required investment in non-gaming attractions.
As casino-led tourism evolves, successful destinations will be those developing non-gaming amenities to complement urban tourism, while maintaining regulatory standards that position casinos alongside other public-serving developments.
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