Slot machines are known for their beautiful lights and colors. What’s often overlooked is their environmental impact. This raises the question: what ecological toll do we pay for our fun? In this article, we discuss the environmental impact of physical slot machines and their counterparts in five-pound casinos not under GamStop. From energy consumption to electronic waste.
Why do slot machines impact the environment?
Firstly, these flashy machines consume a huge amount of energy: physical slot machines are large and use a lot of electricity, even when no one is playing them. But there are also less obvious reasons why these slot machines have a significant impact on the environment. Think of the production of each machine and all the materials used for it. In addition, all these slot machines also have to be transported and installed at their respective locations.
For a single slot machine, the production, transport, and connection may not even be that environmentally damaging, but the Australian gambling organization Gaming Technologies Association (GTA) has calculated how many slot machines there are. More than 7.4 million slot machines are currently in use worldwide. And no, this doesn’t include online slots. The total environmental impact of all these slot machines combined is considerable. For example, operators have already switched to green gambling practices. William Hill, a major sportsbook and non GamStop casino operator in Europe, switched to green energy from wind, solar, and hydropower years ago.
Energy consumption of slot machines
First, let’s discuss the environmental impact of slot machine energy consumption. If we look at slot machines in Las Vegas, each machine consumes an average of about 0.25 kWh per hour.
It’s estimated that Las Vegas has approximately 200,000 slot machines, all operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every 24 hours, Las Vegas consumes 1,200,000 kWh just from slot machines. This is comparable to the energy consumption of an entire country over the same period. Fifty-nine countries have the same or lower energy consumption over a 24-hour period.
And this figure is for Las Vegas alone. Las Vegas is among the top 50 most polluting cities in America. During the first month of the lockdown in 2020, all the non GamStop casinos in the city were empty. That month alone, there was a 33% decrease in pollutants in the city.
Why are slot machines never turned off?
Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps, and slot machines here run 24/7. But even in other locations, physical slot machines are not turned off. Every slot machine, regardless of location, must be kept running constantly. This is because these machines are sensitive to power outages, and any interruption can result in data or winnings being lost. Therefore, turning these machines off during the game isn’t an option, meaning energy consumption continues unabated.
Impact of material and transport
Besides the energy consumption of these slot machines, they also need to be manufactured. And this isn’t just done with the simplest materials. Producing a slot machine requires numerous raw materials and components. Examples include steel, aluminum, and plastic, all of which have an impact on the environment. Besides all these materials, slot machine factories consume a tremendous amount of energy to produce the machines.
Once the slot machines are finished, they have to be delivered to non GamStop casinos and arcades. They travel considerable distances for this, from the manufacturer to the casino, and sometimes between different non GamStop casinos. All in all, this results in a significant pollution burden.