What Can You Do at a Casino Besides Gamble? – 9 Things to Do

What’s the first thing you think about when you hear the word “casino”?

Most of us think about some form of gambling when we think about the casino. And while casinos are filled with gambling opportunities, casinos also offer a wide range of other forms of entertainment.

Casinos have been changing from gambling dens to entertainment palaces over the past several years.

This is a great development because many people who like to gamble have spouses or significant others who don’t enjoy it as much. Now it’s easy to find a casino that offers something for both people. One can gamble while the other shops, visits the spa, or does something else.

Then they can meet later for a nice dinner or to take in a show.

Here’s a list of 9 things to do at the casino other than gamble.

1 – Eat

Everyone has to eat and the casino industry has started to realize that not everyone wants to dine at the buffet.

You can find all kinds of restaurants in casinos, from fast food all the way up to some of the finest dining in the world.

Large gambling destinations like Las Vegas have started recruiting top chefs and restaurants because they not only offer a special experience for their casino players; they also attract new people into the casino who want to enjoy fine dining.

The casinos know that some of these new faces will spend money in the casino on the way in or the way out. How many people can resist putting a dollar or two in the slot machines when they pass them?

If you also play casino games you can often earn comps through the player’s club. These comps are often for meals. If you’re offered a free buffet comp for your play but want to eat at a nicer place in the casino ask if instead of the buffet you can have a discount at the nicer restaurant.

You might even want to check in with the player’s club desk before you start playing to see what options you have. They might be able to tell you how to earn comps for exactly what you want to do. It never hurts to ask.

2 – Enjoy a Show

Many of the best shows and singing acts can be found at casino resorts. Look at the headliners in Las Vegas and you see dozens of the top names.

And you don’t have to travel to Vegas to find great shows either. Many casinos around the world book popular acts to attract more guests. This has become so commonplace that many people who go on casino trips have started planning them based on the show or acts that perform at certain times.

Check the website of your favorite casino or casinos to see the shows they’re hosting over the next several months. And if you travel to a spot with many casinos like Las Vegas you can easily jump in a cab or on the rail and travel to another casino to see a new show.

The same advice I gave about comps about food applies for shows as well. If you want to see shows ask about how you can do so by earning comps.

3 – Visit an Exhibit

Not many casinos have large exhibits, but more and more of them are realizing that a quality display helps bring in more people.

Years ago I stayed at the Luxor in Las Vegas and one of the highlights of the trip was the Egyptian exhibit in the hotel.

Many of the Native American Indian casinos have exhibits displaying sites showing the culture and history of the tribe who owns the land.

You can run a search on Google for casino exhibits to find some of the top attractions in Las Vegas and elsewhere in the world.

4 – People Watch

Some people enjoy sitting in a relaxing place and simply watching the other people. They watch how they walk, interact with others, and get enjoyment out of the many different types of interactions.

Where can you find a more diverse section of the population than in a casino?

And if you want to join you can find plenty of people from all walks of life to socialize with. Instead of spending hours on Facebook you can spend time face to face with real people.

5 – Work

While most of us don’t think about the thousands of people working in the casino industry while we visit, the fact is that casinos need many employees to run well.

The only time we think about a casino employee is when we need one for something. But have you ever considered working in a casino?

The best place to check about a casino job is on the website of the casino itself. Look for a link to jobs or employment opportunities. If you’re visiting the casino ask for the human resources or personnel department and stop in for a chat.

You never know when you might find the perfect job.

Many people who enjoy gambling take a job at the casino so when they finish their shift they can relax and take a few spins on their favorite slot machine or a few hands ta their favorite table game. Many poker players either deal cards for consistent income or were dealers before starting to play full time.

6 – Watch a Game

Most of the larger casinos also have a sports book area where you can place bets on games and sporting events. Some of these have large sitting areas and televisions on the walls showing games.

During busy times the sports books usually discourage people from sitting around who aren’t betting on the games, but as long as you aren’t taking a seat from a bettor you can usually watch a game without being bothered.

And if you want to get in on the action most places take wagers as low as $5 or $10 so it doesn’t cost much to place a bet.

7 – Go to the Bar

Almost every casino of any size has a bar, and many of the larger ones have multiple bars. Many of these bars even have video poker and/or slot machines so you can play while drinking.

Just like the high-end restaurants I mentioned above, some of the big casinos have been opening high-end bars and nightclubs to attract new people to the casino.

If you enjoy the bar and club scene you should check out the options on your next trip to the casino.

8 – Shop

While shopping isn’t an activity associated with most casinos, the fact is that many casinos have gift shops and some of them are creating entire shopping section attached to the hotels.

Some of the hotels in Las Vegas are connected by long stretches of indoor stores offering everything from jewelry, to clothing, to cigars, and just about everything else you can think of.

9 – Visit the Spa

It used to be that visiting the spa for a relaxing massage or treatment was something that only women did. But now spas are designed for women and men and the casinos offer some of the best options.

Originally the casino industry started offering spa services because the men wanted to gamble and the casino wanted to offer something for the women to do while the men were playing blackjack.

This created the spa industry inside the casino industry and it’s grown from there. Instead of an hour or two spa session now you can spend the entire day or a half day being pampered and taken care of.

The pricing of spa services is all over the board so make sure to shop around if more than one casino is in the area. You won’t find a rule that says you have to visit the spa where you’re staying.

Conclusion

When you start planning your next trip to the casino, consider all of the things offered besides gambling. Or consider the casino resort the next time you want to be entertained, even if you’re not interested in gambling.

You can use this list of 9 things to do at the casino other than gamble to get started, but you can find other interesting and entertaining things as well. All you need to do is keep your eyes open and keep looking for your next adventure.