Casino Segment - One Casino


One Casino, the flagship gaming establishment from One Hotel, introduces to New York City a game of chance by offering physical gambling facilities to fund the infrastructure of the hotel segments, the skyscraper, and the city.
 

The origins of gambling can be traced as far back as 2300 BC, and from the time of those ancient origins, competition and gaming have often gone hand in hand as social activities vital for the success of society. During the 1850s, gambling houses gained widespread popularity, but it was not until the mid-twentieth century that the legalization and taxation of gambling began in the United States. This development paved the way for certain states, such as Nevada and New Jersey, to monopolize the gambling industry with the establishment of renowned and so-called “Sin Cities.” In the late twentieth century, Las Vegas, with its opulent hotels and lavish casinos, emerged as the epitome of gambling in the Western Hemisphere. In the late nineteen-eighties and nineties, a shift in casino design philosophy took place, transitioning from artificially lit rooms devoid of clocks to extravagant interiors with a “playground”-like layout. The underlying idea was to provide a comfortable environment for individuals to partake in gambling, even in the event of financial losses.









One Casino - Casino Segment Contribution



In early 2023, New York allocated three new gambling establishment licenses for the southern portion of the state. Of these licenses, it is expected that two will be obtained by existing racinos (or race-track casinos) in Queens and Yonkers, while the remaining one will be determined through an open bidding process. The distinction between a casino license and the current gaming infrastructure in the city lies in the authorization to offer table games such as poker or blackjack. The new casino opportunity has attracted many companies with an estimated bid price of at least 500 million dollars. The city has estimated that a casino could profit 5 billion dollars annually with around 500 million dollars in tax revenues to the state. Vornado is one of the corporate entities that has expressed interest in the possibility of developing a new casino, and they have notably proposed considering the former Hotel Pennsylvania as a potential location.

In contemporary terms, a gambler is characterized as a frequent participant in games of chance, or as someone who regularly invests money in such activities. New York City, renowned as a global cultural hub, boasts an array of museums, activities, shows, and entertainment around every corner. By contrast, a casino represents a more elemental form of excitement, presenting a straightforward game of chance. The intended audience for such establishments can encompass both culturally indifferent locals and tourists seeking a fun night out.



The project proposes One Hotel, a management company partnered with Port Authority, to operate a casino and various hotels in the heart of Manhattan as a symbol of hospitality for the city. Aligning with both contemporary casino principles and the vibrant lifestyle of New York, the project’s One Casino blends a dynamic gaming experience with the meticulously controlled and monitored environment characteristic of a gaming setting. The casino encompasses five floors, including public amenities such as specialty restaurants, a theater, and over 11,000 square meters of gaming area including 1,500 slots and 300 table games.



Positioned at the base of the skyscraper, the One Casino engages in a lively dialogue with the bustling energy of the city. Day and night, the vibrant street life mirrors itself in the polished exterior of the casino, illuminated by the continuous golden glow emanating from ongoing gaming inside. As a fundamental component of the One Hotel, One Casino establishes itself within the busy streetscape rather than as part of the city’s skyline.

The casino is structured into three components: the back of the house, a central egg-shaped structure containing a theater and nightclub, and the gaming floor that surrounds these foundational elements. Despite its opulence, the egg design subtly alludes to the surveillance of the entire gaming floor. The reflective golden surface provides a panoramic perspective of the gaming area, serving as a constant reminder to gamblers that they are under continuous observation.



Fundamental to casino design is the foundational infrastructure of control. The casino operates as a dynamic realm that balances elements of both chaos and control. For gamblers, there exists a non-linear journey through clusters of games; simultaneously, staff oversees the entire space via security checkpoints and surveillance cameras. Nevertheless, crucial to all these systems is the essential role of interpersonal management. Consequently, the casino employs a substantial workforce, necessitating a spacious and comfortable environment for breaks and the cultivation of professional relationships. Beyond the oversight of patrons, the emphasis on promoting positive staff relationships is imperative for the creation of an efficient and secure gaming environment.

The casino provides direct access to the ground floor and public street via a set of escalators. Stringent monitoring is implemented at all casino entrances to prevent underage individuals from entering the gaming areas. The gaming area on the third floor spans the entire floor plate of the plinth. The layout of gaming clusters appears almost haphazard, yet it is meticulously designed for efficiency and constant surveillance through strategically placed security cameras and checkpoints. Densely packed gaming areas mirror the urban activity of Manhattan, offering a dynamic experience that diverges from the city’s regular form. Gamblers can navigate through this intricate web of gaming clusters, discovering new paths, and enhancing their overall gaming adventure.

The “golden egg” extends across four levels of the casino. Inside, a 300-seat auditorium and a vibrant nightclub contribute to the city's lively atmosphere with ongoing shows and nightlife. The theater can be reached from both the fourth and fifth floors, whereas the nightclub offers direct access via a dedicated elevator from the ground floor to its space on the fifth floor.



The sixth floor hosts the casino amenities that are open to the public and features two specialty restaurants. The restaurants are served through a semi-shared kitchen along the east facade, mirroring the design of other service spaces found throughout the casino. Above the casino, the seventh floor is reserved for the casino’s services, including essential elements like staff areas, storage, and administration offices. Despite dedicating an entire floor to these operations, a meticulous approach is taken in strategically distributing components throughout the floor plans.

Along the building’s eastern facade, a designated space is allocated for the cashier and tellers to efficiently collect, count, and securely store the circulating money. The cages on the third and fifth floors ensure convenient access for gamblers to approach a teller as needed. Mantraps and checkpoints are necessary for the safe storage and movement of liquid assets. In the basement, the casino vault is only accessible through a separate service elevator accessible on floors housing the casino’s cashier and counting areas. Every day, the casino meticulously collects, counts, and sorts its chips and coins before securely transporting them to the vault.


The casino does not operate specific lodging options. Instead, guests have the option to select a room from other segments within One Hotel’s operational umbrella for their overnight or weekend stay. The nature of these stays means that these rooms are allocated from the Resort, Chain, and Boutique segments, which have the more generous room sizes. Given the limited number of available rooms, accommodations are exclusively reserved for high-spending patrons and casino rewards members. These privileged guests enjoy the added perk of having an in-house poker table set up in their rooms throughout the entirety of their stays.

Inside the skyscraper, the casino plays a pivotal role in upholding financial stability. The revenue it generates not only ensures the seamless functioning of the entire establishment but also provides substantial income for the city through a 30 percent gambling tax. The partnership with Port Authority fosters a greater responsibility for both the city and One Hotel to represent hospitality in New York City, and One Casino serves, in this framework, as a cornerstone for continuous entertainment and attraction.





Propositions
  1.  The Casino segment caters to a diverse gambling audience, including culturally indifferent residents and visitors, offering an alternative source of amusement tailored to their preferences in the vibrant setting of New York City.
  2. Reflecting the city’s frenetic energy, the lower floors of the skyscraper are exclusively dedicated to the casino, operating continuously around the clock.
  3. The Casino segment recreates the excitement of gaming in a dynamic manner, maintaining rigorous surveillance and operational efficiency within the skyscraper’s confined space.
  4. Instead of offering accommodations, the Casino segment arranges rooms from other segments to accommodate specific high-spending guests.
  5. The Casino plays a crucial role in bolstering significant revenue for the hotel, the city, and the state by collecting a 30 percent gambling tax and creating numerous job opportunities.






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