How to Build a Casino
If you want to hear your own slot machine jackpot bells ring and have a talent for knowing when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em (your business plans, that is), a casino could be in your future--especially if you live in a state with liberal license-granting powers. Follow these tips, get up close and personal with the gaming commission in your state, and give Donald Trump and Sam Binyon a run for their money.
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Things You'll Need
- Business plan
- Gaming license(s)
- General contractor
- Huge amounts of cash
- Security system
- Gamblers
Instructions
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Put together a business plan to outline, on paper, how you plan to finance, build, operate, run, advertise and manage your casino. A solid business plan will ensure that you don't forget anything while building.
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Talk with your state government to see if there are available gambling licenses. This issue is easier to circumnavigate if you're in a state that allows all forms of gaming like Nevada and New Jersey. Other states require proof that casino investors have the required ethnicity to build on Native American reservations. A third group of states may sanction horse racing, riverboat gambling and other games, so be completely clear about what your state will and won't allow before you invest time and money in your idea.
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Get financial backing. Search for investors with cash and influence; seek those who have invested in casinos before, so they know what to expect based upon the size and complexity of your plan. Your slots-only way station in Vegas may require a modest $800,000 to launch, but if aiming for a showplace, think in terms of $8 billion (the Bellagio cost a mere $1.5 billion to build back in the day).
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Employ the most experienced general contractor you can locate to oversee the building of your casino--importantly, one who has at least one like-sized project under his belt. Casino builders have pipelines to plumbers, bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and other skilled sub-contractors so you can be assured of a competent crew if the right general contractor is in charge. As insurance, build incentives into your construction contract by offering a bonus if the casino comes in on deadline and/or under budget.
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Retrofit the building with equipment and furniture. Shop for all of the items you need at commercial showrooms in your region and choose reputable gambling machine manufacturers. Use a professional decorator to advise you on colors, carpet and appointments. There's a psychology attached to gaming casinos--every color (red and gold are popular), alcove, chair and eating venue is chosen to optimize a gambler's experience and remove her from reality, which is why you needn't order clocks or drapes for your windows. Professional casino builders and designers understand how to mix and match elements to create the perfect cocoon.
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Install state-of-the-art security systems and personnel. You'll need surveillance cameras trained on tables, pit bosses, money room counters, dealers, slots and gaming tables as well as an army of plainclothes security professionals who are trained to look for any sign of cheating or trouble. Secure a comprehensive insurance package from a broker who has an in-depth understanding of casinos and how they work.
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Search for the right mix of dealers, floor bosses and hospitality workers. Your HR department must conduct thorough background checks (at your expense) to eliminate those with criminal records or your facility risks being closed down.
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Roll out marketing and advertising campaigns to notify consumers about the opening of your facility. Display ads in publications, Internet banners, coupons, promotions and targeted mailing lists.
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Pass inspections. Everyone from health department inspectors to gaming commission officials are required to put their stamp of approval on your facility before it can open it's doors. Hang occupancy licenses and other required documentation in plain sight. Make sure your HVAC professionals monitor the air frequently so patrons who stick around for days on end don't get sick.
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Hold a grand opening and welcome customers. Expect the gaming commission to remain vigilant over time by making certain that you, your investors and your employees stay as clean as you did the day you first applied for permission to open your casino.
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Tips & Warnings
Find a different type of business to launch if you've had problems with the law. Your life will be turned upside down when you apply for a gaming license so make certain there's no hint of illegal business practices or affiliation with organized crime in your background. If you applied in the past and were refused a license, that information is captured and sent to states and tribes across the land as part of reciprocal licensing agreements that fall under each state's Department of Justice.
