Ideal Bite

ECO-GAMBLING

Poker Face

07.02.2009

Submitted by tmeronek on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 11:00pm.

The Bite:

Think you blow too much pocket green every time you gamble? No doubt - but while the house might always win, slick eco-gambling swag and new lux green casinos will make you forget that they just called your bluff. Check 'em out just in time for the Texas Hold 'Em World Championship.

The Benefits:

Inscrutable eco-friendliness. Gear made from materials such as recycled felt (tables), FSC-certified wood (chips), and certified sustainable paper (playing cards) look just like the props you're used to using.
Up the ante. Supporting casinos that reclaim wastewater, save A/C, or use electric vehicles might just convince some of the other biggies to follow suit.
Nothing to hide. These casinos and gear offer all the trimmings (prizes! spas! real wood!) with a little less eco-guilt.

Personally Speaking:

Heather's won big at online craps; she's now convinced that free online gaming is a conspiracy created by casinos: Players get to thinking they're really good, but when they switch to the real thing, whoops - there goes the loot.

Wanna Try:

Gear

EGM Green - for wannabe high rollers: sustainable gaming tables and furniture made from certified sustainable wood, recycled aluminum, and felt - they can actually earn you LEED credits ($5,000/poker table).
Used Slot Machines - used slot machines = fewer resources used to make new ones ($699 and up).
Bicycle Eco-Edition Deck - the number one playing card maker in the world now has cards made from sustainable paper, cornstarch laminate, and veggie-based inks ($5).
eBay - get your used poker chips (in many cases, cool vintage ones) here (prices vary).

Casinos

Palazzo - the largest LEED-certified building in the United States; has solar pool heating and superefficient autotemperature adjustment in its hotel rooms (Las Vegas).
MGM CityCenter (Las Vegas) and Revel Casino Resort (Atlantic City) - soon-to-open green casinos, both seeking LEED certification.
Barona Resort & Casino - recycles more than 90% of its wastewater, landscapes with low-water native plants, and has electric maintenance vehicles (San Diego).
Chumash Casino - retrofitted its slot machines with LEDs, installed low-flow water toilets and showerheads, and collects its kitchen grease for use as biodiesel (Santa Ynez, CA).
Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel - designed to maximize natural light, its parking lots are made with recycled materials, and its slot machines use less energy than most (Williamsburg, MI).
Casino Del Rio - this online casino's HQ does recycling and waste-energy monitoring, and plants a tree for every new player.

Cocktail Fact

Richard Nixon funded his first campaign for Congress (which he won) with poker winnings.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters opt for a deck of cards made from sustainably harvested paper, we'll save about two trees.

12 comments

Email This

Tips Like This

John Malone on July 02, 2009 at 06:48 AM 1

Didn't realise that you were promoting gambling on this website. Makes one wonder what else you promote that is highly distastful to readers!

susan j on July 02, 2009 at 09:34 AM 2

I agree, this is a distasteful topic and nothing to do with ideal anything! You always talk about saving money but how is gambling saving? IT's an addiction and waste, of time and money. Shame on you!

Tiffany on July 02, 2009 at 10:37 AM 3

If only they could use the energy they use up being angry in a more useful way, less distasteful, way. If someone is going to gamble, they are going to gamble. Might as well give them some tips on how to keep it as green as possible. See, I didn't know about Barona being a better option than other casinos in the area. Now I know, so next time my friends and I get that, oh, so shameful, urge to have some drinks and strike that jackpot, we'll be more likely to go there, instead of say... Pechanga.

cheryl on July 02, 2009 at 02:12 PM 4

no comment at all ;=(

Lisa on July 12, 2009 at 08:43 AM 5

I had no idea some of the new ventures in Vegas were aiming green - so thanks for the heads up! They will surely be on my short list for the next trip! Keep the good tips (from any and all categories) coming :-)

Omar Flours on July 23, 2009 at 09:37 AM 6

Gambling is similar to other vices - too much and it's bad, but if you can keep it controlled I don't see why green gambling machines and such are out of the energy efficient discussion. I did notice on my last Las Vegas vacation that many of the casinos were trying to retrofit their slot machines with green technology.

Mopl on August 14, 2009 at 05:22 AM 7

This is an interesting news, i don't even know that you can play in green casinos in Las Vegas, Why not, me i play online to have bonus casinos, and try to win ?! :-) i know that hosting can be ecological, but casinos ? Thanks for that informative post !

Margaret on August 24, 2009 at 11:10 PM 8

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Margaret http://powerleveling.info

Overloaded Robot on September 09, 2009 at 03:40 PM 9

From my last Las Vegas poker run with my buddies, many of the new casinos in Vegas had a big focus on green energy. Solar panels can now be seen sprinkled throughout the whole city, and the lights and giant TVs have all been converted to high resolution, energy saving LCD bulbs and screens.

ggjgjg on September 25, 2009 at 08:19 AM 10

Kleinfeld Bridal carries the largest selection of couture wedding dresses, designer exclusives, eveningwear Try order bridal gowns online with us! Join the thousands of satisfied customers we have been serving for 8 years!

Post new comment

target='_blank'>

border='0' alt='' />

Poker Face

Cocktail Fact

Bang For The Bite

Tips Like This

Other Related Content

Post new comment

Sign Up