Comments on: Can Gambling Be Green?

By: Lora Kolodny

Lora Kolodny — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:29:45 +0000

@Luanne. I’m of the opinion that any industry or company, even casinos, can find a way to operate sustainably, and responsibly. I mean this from a social and environmental standpoint.

If there can be a green hotel, there can be green casinos. If there can be a green ranch, there can be green gambling. We just have to provide some positive ideas to the casino owners who aren’t thinking about it.

I immediately go to notions like bamboo poker chips, easing way up on air conditioning, planting rooftop gardens on casino buildings, funding habitat and Native American history preservation projects with casino fees and taxes, and better education and counseling about gambling in the towns that have them.

But the trick is getting casino and hotel owner-operators of these businesses to believe it is worth while, and that they will remain in business more profitably or longer if they implement such measures.

GREAT story!

By: Luanne

Luanne — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:55:12 +0000

I hear Mike loud and clear. It’s one thing to play Poker with your buddies over a few beers. It’s another to create an industry around it, one that has always been linked to excess, from organized crime (talk about excess!) to the Native American phenomenon of going from habitat loss to casino life. What a stretch, and how sad. Vegas will come to a halt soon enough, I’m sorry to say, because I love the shows and the discount shopping, the only lures worth going for. They continue to build ginormous towers and hotels despite the energy issues. It cannot go on forever.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:12:42 +0000

🙂 Well, I do try to have fun. Spice of life, and all that.

I wasn’t saying gambling is “wrong” in any way and I certainly wouldn’t use the word “sin”, capital or small “s”. That’s kinda preachy and, yup, not fun at all. 😉 I was making the point about gambling being associated with large amounts of wastefulness, as cited in the article.

And I agree – very good presentation.

By: Susannah

Susannah — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:46:55 +0000

Yes, Mike is being narrow minded. I wonder if he has any fun and ever has it with anyone. Just because it’s activity you don’t personally approve of, doesn’t make it wrong for others to engage in. Some sins are quite green, you know.

This was a very good presentation from Anna, I might add.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:11:06 +0000

Fascinating. Thanks, Anna!

I think this is one of those topics like the US Army finding greener ways to blow things up. There’s the thing, and then there’s how the thing’s done. 🙂

However, despite the examples listed, I can’t shake off the feeling that gambling is indelibly hand-in-hand with excess. It’s about wish-fulfilment and self-gratification. And while the companies offering gambling services may be toeing the line, the punters will still be addicted to the wasteful, who-cares-I’m-on-a-roll lifestyle that traditionally accompanies gambling.

I hope I’m being narrow-minded and wrong…