Quote:
Originally Posted by dozer
Do you think there will ever be a day where Vegas stops comping drinks, period?
Local casinos in FL and IN charge for drinks. People who want to drink don't complain about it, they pay for it. It's not a lot -- way less than the nightclubs or fancy restaurants charge -- so that helps, but it's still a cost for the consumer.
Casinos in Vegas are a business and now that they are publicly traded companies, they will evolve based on what analysts recommend and market trends. They will not stick to old ways simply because "that's how we've always done it."
Trends show that gambling is a smaller and smaller percentage of casino revenue year after year. The free drinks were considered an expense towards generating more gambling revenue. Now, if selling drinks is calculated to bring in more revenue than the bump in gambling revenue from free drinks, the casinos will quickly change their business model.
Look at the most recent major changes of resort fees, parking fees, and changed odds on popular games like blackjack. If there is a model that suggests a change will increase revenue, a casino will selectively roll it out and if it works, it will go casino wide and then strip wide.
It's like poker. The game was different 15 years ago, 10 years ago, 5 years ago, and even 2-3 years ago. If you play exactly how you played 10 years ago, you will see your win rate fall. If you adjust, you will maintain a good win rate and might actually make more money.
Evolution is the name of the game in business and in life. Those that fear change will be left in the rear view mirror waiting for a free drink.