The 1980s was a decade marked by outlandish style and evolving fashions. With new trends emerging regularly, staying abreast of the latest trends was challenging. As such, the 1980s had a profound impact on design that continues to this day.
One industry that experienced a significant evolution in the 1980s was the gambling sector, particularly casinos. The influence of 1980s style and design on casinos was so profound that its impact is still felt in modern casino design worldwide.
If you dig the ‘80s and want to see how the decade influenced gambling establishments—both in physical locations and at online casinos that you can enjoy without commitment—keep reading.
Early 1980s Casinos
While large casinos existed in the early 1980s, most were nothing like the casinos we have become accustomed to today. The era of mega-casinos had yet to take off, and most gambling houses fell into one of two categories: sawdust joints or rug joints.
These unique names were given based on what you could expect to find within a specific casino. Many gambling houses operated only to make a profit and weren’t worried about style or player experience. As such, they had little furnishings besides gambling machines and almost no décor.
These casinos used to throw sawdust onto the floor to save costs on the establishment. This had the purpose of soaking up any liquid should somebody spill their drink. As such, these casinos received the appropriate title of a sawdust joint.
In contrast, some casinos began trying to operate more distinguished and decorated establishments. These had furniture such as lounge chairs and often had décor items like paintings, pictures, or other decorative items around the gambling area.
To complete the look of being more refined, these casinos had rugs on the floor rather than just sawdust. Because of this stark contrast, these casinos were given the name rug joints.
The 1980s Mega Casino Revolution
As the 1980s moved on, a massive shift began to occur in casinos. Spearheaded by Las Vegas titans like Steve Wynn, casinos began to shift their focus solely from places where people could gamble to places where the public could be entertained.
The first result was the rise of the mega casino. These casinos offered significantly more gambling areas than previous establishments and various other amenities within the same complex.
At first, these additional amenities included simple things like eateries where gamblers could grab a bite to eat. Soon, however, hotels, shopping boutiques, and entertainment arenas were added.
As this occurred, casinos morphed from small, intimate gambling houses into mega resorts where anyone could come to find entertainment—whether or not they enjoyed gambling.
1980s Casino Style in Modern Casinos
Alongside the rise of mega-casinos (or casino resorts as they are known today), three distinct style and design factors were applied to casinos of the decade. Still playing a major role in today’s casino designs, these design elements are evidence of the 1980s’ impact on the industry.
Scale
The first and most prominent factor in shaping the future was the rise of casino resorts. With establishments like the Mirage and Golden Nugget transforming the Las Vegas strip, many casinos followed suit.
Today, the practice of building an enormous entertainment hub with gambling at its heart continues. Places like WinStar World Casino, Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland, California, have continued this design practice.
These casinos, despite offering up to 519,000 square feet of gambling space alone, cater to a wide variety of guests through amenities ranging from recreation centers for kids to day spas for adults.
Themes
Alongside the increase in casino size, the late 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of themed casinos. Establishments began breaking the regular mold and theming entire resorts after fantasy themes or alternative locations.
The advent of Luxor (Egypt), Caesars Palace (Rome), and Excalibur (Medieval Times) showed how a theme could transform a simple gambling house into a place of wonder. This not only attracted more gamblers, particularly through the inclusion of the most popular games available, but also made these casinos talking points that encouraged non-gamblers to visit.
The idea of building mega-resorts with unique themes has continued in modern establishments, some of which have taken them to even more extravagant levels. Also, like the 1980s casinos, which swapped rough floors for luxury finishes and posh fixtures, modern casinos are built to exude luxury in every aspect.
Planning
Although larger casinos required reworking how new casinos were laid out, the 1980s saw the purposeful introduction of labyrinth-like designs. These, aimed at disorienting guests and making them feel like they were in a maze, helped encourage adventure and exploration, enticing guests to seek a way out—and see what was on offer along the way.
Not only did this design encourage guests to visit every corner of a casino resort, but it also made it particularly difficult to find an exit, resulting in players staying—and playing—longer. The labyrinth effect also made gambling spaces more intimate, creating a cave-life feeling where gamblers would feel like they’d made it to the center of the maze.
Although modern casinos prefer wider, more open gambling floors that encourage openness and are more inviting to gamblers, the labyrinth effect is still widely used. Rather than being used on the actual gambling floor, however, it is used on amenities around the gambling hall, encouraging guests to see all available options before they leave.
Summary
The casinos of the 1980s underwent a stark change from those that came before them. Burgeoning outward and dressed up in fantastical themes, they set the tone for the industry and shaped how modern casinos are designed and even how online casinos are presented.
Although the 1980s were decades ago, the styles, plans, and evolution of how casinos look and engage with guests have carried forward. Without these changes, gambling today may have been as drab and boring as in the 1970s, when the only excitement was found on the floor.
