Love it or loathe it, there’s no denying that there is nowhere in the US quite like Las Vegas. The world-famous casinos on The Strip are as famous for their themes as they are for the gambling activities that take place on the casino floor. There are the Gondolas at the Venetian, the live acts at Circus Circus and so on.
Between 1998 and 2008, the Las Vegas Hilton (now the Westgate) catered for sci-fi fans with its amazing Star Trek Experience. The story of how that particular enterprise (pun very much intended) came into being and then disappeared without trace is a story in itself. But it proves that such things can be done and it gives us food for thought – a Star Wars casino would be a surefire success on the Las Vegas strip.
Themed casinos in cyberspace
The idea of going beyond themed casino games and extending the theme to the casino itself is one that has already caught on in cyberspace. When you look at a site like gamblingsites.com, you can see how many online casinos are competing in the US market. Yes, trust, security and fair games are most important. But with that in place, it all comes down to the window dressing, and the casino that does the best job of grabbing your attention.
What might a Star Wars casino look like?
There are Star Wars Events like Star Wars Celebration held every year. Imagine transferring that vibe and buzz into a permanent casino setting on the Las Vegas strip! There is a whole galaxy of inspiration to draw on from almost half a century of Star Wars. For example, different areas of the casino could focus on different characters or events. Just imagine sitting down to three card poker only to have Darth Vader dealing the cards!
The outside of the casino could be made to resemble the Death Star, and for those who need refreshment, a Star Wars Cantina Bar would be a surefire hit. In the long gone Star Trek Experience, visitors could enjoy cocktails such as Borg Spheres in Quark’s bar, and it was enormously popular, so it is a model that has already been tried and tested on the Las Vegas public.
Of course, as we can see from other casinos on The Strip, they are about more than just gambling and drinking. People talk of the Bellagio and think of the fountains, and we’ve already mentioned the Gondolas at the Venetian. Now think a moment and imagine the peripheral features that a Death Star casino could boast.
There is an argument that the Star Trek Experience was ahead of its time. The 4D effects seemed incredible, but remember, this was in the era of Windows NT and Nokia 3210s. A Star Wars casino using 2020s technology has so many possibilities. Now all we need is a billionaire developer to pick up the idea and run with it!