Why Aren’t There More Rural Casinos?

Given their overall prominence, it could be assumed that casinos are some of the most far-reaching establishments across the country. And, it goes without saying there is a fair few in Bristol too. However, it may be wrong to assume so, given that casinos really only span towns and cities and there’s very little penetration into truly rural areas - here’s why.

Before jumping into that, it’s worth considering that as well as being land-based, casinos can also have an online presence, as facilitated by the sustained innovation on the internet. This can be seen to have also given rise to the bigger jackpot games on offer from providers like Paddy Power, whose games can make use of progressive jackpots that rise until someone wins whatever amount has accumulated over time. The execution of progressive jackpots has improved thanks to online casinos as it has allowed for more seamless integration of such features. This in turn has helped form a better playing experience regardless if you're playing from Bristol or elsewhere.

It would seem strange that there aren’t more rural casinos around, especially given that they can provide a notable boost to employment in most areas. In less populated areas, it makes sense that they can create more jobs. This in turn leads to higher earnings and as a result greater economic growth for the region. By placing casinos in rural areas, it should lessen the disparity in part between those areas and also the more metropolitan areas where casinos are traditionally located. Furthermore, it would also seem odd given the fact that, as per a 2015 article from the American Psychological Association, participation in gambling is higher in rural areas. This considers factors such as higher community cohesion in areas with fewer people, and those within a community are likely to be increasingly supportive.

However, there is a small problem with this argument. Fundamentally, rural casinos will cater to fewer people compared to those in the more populated areas. It does make sense in part there aren’t many rural casinos around. Putting one in Somerset for instance within some of the more remote areas away from the cities like Bristol may only mean that the casino gets a literal handful of people through the door each night. It makes more financial sense to have a central hub in the major city of the area such as Bristol and therefore people within both the immediate vicinity and surrounding area can access it. In addition to this, there may be objections from people if a casino is placed in an area that perhaps is deemed to infringe on the local landscape and possibly ruin the view. To some, this may mean a lot.

In conclusion, it may well be fortunate that there aren’t more casinos in rural areas around Bristol given that there is may well be demand for gambling there. However, it may not make as much logistical sense in practice as it does in theory, especially given the low population density that rural areas can have in comparison to areas which traditionally suit casinos better.