Casino as a tourism driver (Bahamas)

For the Bahamas, casinos are not just halls with games, but the core of integrated resorts that pull air traffic, hotel loading, restaurants and MICE. In 2024, the country received 11.22 million international visits - a historical record confirming the strength of the destination and its entertainment product.

1) Why exactly a casino is a powerful "magnet" for a tourist

Integrated resorts as "all-in-one." The modern Bahamas model relies on a combination of "casinos + hotels + gastro + shopping + events." On Baha Mar, these are three hotel brands (Grand Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood), dozens of restaurants and the Baha Bay water park - all within walking distance of the casino. This format increases the average duration and check of the trip.

Strong anchor brands. Baha Mar Casino is billed as "the Caribbean's most luxurious and largest casino" (floor-to-ocean windows, 1000 + slots and 100 + tables, plus Sportsbook by William Hill). Atlantis Paradise Island is a destination icon with ~ 80 tables and 700 + slots in the light room above the lagoon. These sites form the "reason for the trip" and a rich agenda on the spot.

Multiplier effect. State and industry sources converge: tourism gives 50-60% + GDP and about half of employment, and the lion's share of consumer spending is generated by resort clusters (hotel, entertainment, F&B). Casinos boost off-season loading and help maintain a high ADR RevPAR premium.

2) Haccay/Paradise Island: Bahamian casino-tourism "showcase"

Baha Mar (Cable Beach, Nassau). New wave flagship: panoramic hall, Baha Mar Sportsbook by William Hill, rich lifestyle ecosystem. It is these parameters that give the destination a competitive advantage in the Caribbean.

Atlantis Casino (Paradise Island). Historical brand, architecture "across the lagoon," ~ 85 tables and 700 + slots; for many guests, the first contact with the Bahamian casino experience.

Access rules as a positioning element. Resort casinos focus on 18 + tourists; this highlights their role as an "export of experiences" and maintains the image of family resorts.

3) Grand Bahama: Casino as part of the "big reboot"

After a long pause, the island goes on a course of revival. In May 2025, investor Concord Wilshire Capital closed a $120 million deal to buy Grand Lucayan and announced ~ $827 million redevelopment, including a new casino ~ 25,000 ft ² and large-scale resort components (hotel, residence, Greg Norman field, marina), plus cruise cluster. This is a direct signal: the return of the casino is the key to restarting tourist traffic and jobs in Grand Bahama.

4) What exactly casinos are "doing" for tourism (five growth mechanisms)

1. Generate a reason for the trip: VIP events, tournaments, sportbook activations → predictable download peaks.

2. Lengthen the stay: Players spend more time at the resort and convert to restaurants/shows/retail.

3. Smoothing seasonality: MICE and gaming weekends are dragging demand out of the holidays.

4. Increase marketing "fame": Baha Mar and Atlantis brands are media anchors of the entire archipelago.

5. Stimulating infrastructure investments: the Grand Lucayan case shows how the casino block enters the "master plan" along with the harbor, golf and embankment, strengthening the island's "magnets."

5) Record 2024 and implications for strategy

The Ministry of Tourism reported: 11.22 million visits in 2024 (+ 16.2% by 2023), while the air flow exceeded the dock level. For the entertainment segment, this means: a higher base of demand for games/sports books, more chances for cross-selling in restaurants and events, faster return on investment in gaming and near-gaming zones.

6) Responsible growth and sustainability

The issue of sustainability (especially in the cruise segment) is the focus of public discussion. When scaling entertainment clusters, it is important for the Bahamas to balance the economic impact and environmental risks of coastal projects. This is part of the new agenda, on which the long-term attractiveness of the direction depends.

7) Practical conclusions for market players

Operators/developers: betting on an integrated product (game + lifestyle + MICE) gives the largest multiplier. The Baha Mar case is the benchmark, the Grand Lucayan case is a reflection of the future wave.

Tour operators/airlines: design "casino packages" for the peaks of events and sports seasons - sports books and tournaments allow you to more accurately control the load.

Government agencies/city projects: casino cluster strengthens embankments, gastro street and retail; it is important to lay transport and environmental buffers to support record flows.

The Bahamas has proven that casino resorts are a key driver of tourism. The Baha Mar + Atlantis pair makes Nassau and Paradise Island a showcase for the archipelago, and the Grand Bahama redevelopment with a new casino component prepares a second pillar of growth. Against the background of a record 11.22 million visits in 2024, the bet on integrated entertainment remains the most reliable way to increase the tourist's LTV and diversify destination income.

• Record: 11.22 million international visits (2024), Ministry of Tourism Bahamas.
• Baha Mar Casino: positioning, Sportsbook, slot/table scale.
• Atlantis Casino: ≈60 000 ft ², ~ 85 tables, 700 + slots, design above the lagoon.
• The contribution of tourism to the economy (benchmarks 50-60% of GDP, employment ≈polovina).
• Grand Lucayan (2025): $120 million deal and redevelopment ~ $827 million with a new casino zone.
• Discussion on sustainability and cruise streams.