{"id":5112,"date":"2026-01-21T15:52:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/global-social-challenges\/?p=5112"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:52:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:52:27","slug":"gambling-excessive-tourism-and-extreme-capitalism-is-las-vegas-casino-culture-facilitating-the-climate-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/global-social-challenges\/2026\/01\/21\/gambling-excessive-tourism-and-extreme-capitalism-is-las-vegas-casino-culture-facilitating-the-climate-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Gambling, Excessive Tourism, and Extreme Capitalism: Is Las Vegas\u2019 Casino Culture Facilitating the Climate Crisis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” background_layout=”dark” module_class=”main-navigation” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.0.106″ title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”above” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Article by\u00a0Ellen Taylor<\/p>\n

Photo by\u00a0Grant Cai on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n

We all know the famous saying, \u2018what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas\u2019. Yet, in relation to climate change, this statement could not be further from the truth. With its flashing lights and promises of gambling successes, Las Vegas remains one of the most visited places in the world, let alone the United States. 2024 saw the income of 41,676,300 tourists, generating a gaming revenue (in Clark County) of around $13,567,388,000<\/a>. Whilst these figures seem all well and good to the tourist industry and to Nevada\u2019s economic reputation, Nevada is facing greater problems. Las Vegas is experiencing record high temperatures and in 2020 there where over 124 heat-related deaths. Its temperatures are rising much faster than any other US state<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You may be wondering; how does this relate to gambling? Well, casinos and betting shops are an essential part of the Las Vegas tourism industry. Reports conducted by the American Gaming Association (AGA) revealed that the casino industry contributes almost $329 billion annually to the US economy. AGA CEO, Bill Miller, stated \u201cIn Nevada, the gaming industry funds roughly a third of the state\u2019s general fund.\u201d<\/a> The excessive consumption ever present in areas such as Las Vegas is playing a key role in facilitating extensive carbon consumption. It has been revealed that carbon use within transport accounts for 14% of greenhouse emissions<\/a>. As a popular tourist destination, it could be correctly assumed that air-travel to Las Vegas is frequent and thus impactful on global warming.<\/p>\n

However, the most pressing link between the dangerously high temperatures in Nevada and gambling culture may best be explained through what Sheller describes as \u2018neo-liberal casino capitalism\u2019 (Sheller, 2008: 480 cited in Urry, 2009<\/a>). A common feature of capitalist society is that it is always evolving. With that, comes the creation of new forms of pleasure (Urry, 2009<\/a>). In this case, \u2018pleasure\u2019 takes the form of flashing lights on a slot machine, or the suspense of waiting to see which cards are revealed in a game of poker. Although the casino culture within Las Vegas is not necessarily a new phenomenon – gaining popularity in 1931 – society has developed to create a \u2018high mobility system\u2019 (Urry, 2009<\/a>). A \u2018high mobility system\u2019 is one in which it is expected, or at least normalised, to travel for pleasure. As a result, more people are visiting Las Vegas and this societal development can be seen in the 2024 Las Vegas visitor volume, which saw a 2.1% increase from the previous year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is also important to mention that, with an increase in gaming tourism comes an increase in casino construction, to meet demand. For example, the Fontainebleau opened recently, in December 2023. Casino construction contributes to a variety of environmental issues such as deforestation, soil degradation, land and air pollution and the destruction of animal habitats. Additional, casinos in Las Vegas operate on a twenty-four\/seven basis and thus require significant amounts of energy to operate efficiently. As mentioned previously, Clark County is the seat of Las Vegas and its popular gambling area, with gaming revenue reaching around $13,567,399,000 in 2024. On 25th<\/sup> February 2023, 7.89% of Clark County classified as being in \u2018extreme drought\u2019<\/a>. It is important to note that this correlation does not equal causation. However, the increase in extreme weather along with vast numbers of pleasure-seeking tourist is too great a coincidence to be ignored when considering such drastic changes in the state\u2019s climate.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, it is important to recognise that, whilst the rise in \u2018casino capitalism\u2019 is a contributing factor to the increasing temperatures in Las Vegas, changes are being implemented. Major casinos and resorts in the state are taking measures to become more sustainable. The Resort World Hotel\u2019s head of sustainability, Brandon Morrison, announced in 2023 that they were investing more than $1billion in energy efficient upgrades<\/a>. Furthermore, Vegas is second in the US for solar capacity, with influential German architect, Steffen Lehmann, stating, \u201cSin City could be called Solar City.\u201d<\/a> So, progress and the fight for change is present. But, as stated in his article on the Discussion on \u201cGlobal Warming and Sociology\u201d, <\/em>Leahy explains, \u201cthere is no way forward without a drastic reduction in consumption and production\u201d (Leahy, 2008: 480 cited in Urry, 2009<\/a>). Thus, raising the questions: are suitable measures being taken? Or should the state of Nevada take on a more drastic approach to the climate crisis by scaling back on its encouragement of mass consumerism? The future remains unclear, but one thing is for certain, drastic action must continue.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n

Related posts:<\/h3>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

Capitalism and Climate Change: One Feature of Human Progress in Life is the Destruction of the Earth<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

Navigating a Shrinking World: The Globalisation of Risk<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

The Growth Trap: How Endless Profit Keeps the Planet Burning<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” module_class=”footer-section” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” disabled=”off” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”380″ locked=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

Contact us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”380″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” parent_locked=”off” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”contact-us” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

Find us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

Connect with us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”380″ parent_locked=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n