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Casinos around the U.S. are putting more money into spas, food, entertainment, and outdoor amenities.
Casino operators are using non-gaming amenities to reposition themselves as full resort destinations. The goal is to attract younger adult customers who may be less interested in spending long stretches on a traditional gaming floor.
That broader trend is visible in Michigan’s Gun Lake Casino Resort.
Gun Lake Fits the Resort-Style Casino Trend
A report said casino developers and operators are redesigning properties around experiences beyond slots and table games. The amenities range from food halls, artist-driven design, and public parks to sportsbook lounges meant to feel more like neighborhood gathering spots.
Gun Lake’s expansion was included alongside other major projects.
According to the report, design firm HBG Design has seen casinos reserve as little as 40% of a property for gaming, and in some cases 10%.
Why Operators Are Shifting Space Away From Gaming
Several data signals behind the change.
- A 2025 TransUnion survey found younger adults are less inclined to gamble in person.
- The Siena Research Institute found half of U.S. men ages 18 to 49 have accounts on mobile sportsbook platforms.
- Las Vegas visitor survey data also suggested Gen Z tourists are more interested in concerts and hangouts than gambling.
For operators, the revenue mix is changing, too. The report said Penn Entertainment’s regulatory filings show non-gaming revenue rising as a share of casino business, from 18% in 2018 to an estimated 24% in 2026.
Penn Entertainment also invested $195 million in New Orleans casino reinvention and the $360 million overhaul of Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora in Illinois.
Further, Hard Rock’s has a proposed Metropolitan Park complex in Queens. Only 10% of that property would be devoted to gaming. The plan would set aside 25 acres for parks, athletic fields, and event space.
Gun Lake’s recent additions line up with a national casino strategy. That means putting more emphasis on overnight stays, dining, wellness, and social experiences alongside gambling.
Source: As reported by Cre Daily.
