Imagine stepping off a sleek, interstellar cruiser onto a futuristic space casino. You’re struck by the breathtaking view of the stars through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The interior is a beautiful blend of chrome and glass, with cutting-edge technology and holographic displays showcasing the latest contests. You effortlessly float over to the blackjack tables, feeling weightless in the zero-gravity environment. The thrill of each hand and the rush of going all-in is heightened by the otherworldly surroundings, as the lack of gravity adds an unexpected twist to the classic card game.
Although this sounds like a sci-fi film, gambling in the universe is closer to reality than ever before, we’re still a long way away from playing slot machines on a spaceship, but the concept isn’t as ridiculous as you first may think.
Currently, traveling outside the globe has gained significant attention among famous people- featuring top recording artists, movie stars, and celebrities since companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic have planned to create commercial galactic travel a reality. This has the potential for humans to endeavor into orbit for leisure and enjoyment obtained from gambling and betting. Here, one of the most important questions arises i.e. Can you open a casino up there? Explore this article and discover the possibilities of bringing gambling and entertainment to the final frontier.
Space Tourism So Far
Consider it as human space travel or the concept of humans traveling to outer orbit for the sake of leisure and recreational purposes. The types of travel outside the globe are inclusive of orbital, suborbital, and lunar tourism. This concept was actually begun in the early 2000s, and since then, it remains a hot topic. It began with the launch of the first satellite designed for human travel that was privately funded. Numerous missions to the International Space Station (ISS) using a Soyuz satellite is facilitated by Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos), from 2001 to 2009.
American businessman Dennis Tito was the first tourist to travel to the ISS. Six more wealthy individuals completed the mission following this.
| Tourist | Dates | Fee Paid |
| Dennis Tito | 28th Apr to 6th May 2001 | $20 million |
| Mark Shuttleworth | 25th Apr to 5th May 2002 | $20 million |
| Gregory Olsen | 1st Oct to 10th Oct 2005 | $20 million |
| Anousheh Ansari | 20th Sept to 29th Sept 2006 | $20 million |
| Charles Simonyi | 7th Apr to 21st Apr 2007 & 26th Mar to 8th Apr 2009 | $25 million & $35 million |
| Richard Garriott | 12th Oct to 24th Oct 2008 | $30 million |
| Guy Laliberté | 30th Sep to 11th Oct 2009 | $35 million |
In June 2021, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reached an altitude of 66 miles on Blue Origin’s first successful crewed flight. Since then, multiple other flights beyond the atmosphere of Earth have launched with famous names onboard, including Star Trek actor William Shatner and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.
Although traveling outside the globe is still new, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX continue to develop commercial travel options. This includes orbital trips around the Globe, suborbital flights to the edge of the universe, and visits to the ISS. However, it might not be too long before we’re rocketing to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
Smaller firms are also entering the universe race. For example:
- This perspective plan offer rides to the edge of the stratosphere in a luxury capsule attached to a gigantic balloon, complete with Wi-Fi and a bar.
- Zephalto also wants to offer balloon trips to the stratosphere but with Michelin-star quality cuisine and wine for their guests.
- Orbital Assembly is planning two luxury hotels from 2025, complete with a gym, lobby bar, and restaurants.
With the report about it, the space industry is expected to grow significantly – $21.17 billion in 2032, up 37.5% from 2022 – and companies developing elaborate plans, is an orbit casino really that out there?
The Potential for Casinos in Space
This concept may sound futuristic, but wagering and the universe are nothing new. Films including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Lost In Space, The Fifth Element, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Wars all depict scenes with characters enjoying various gambling activities. Closer to home, orbit, and staking crossovers have included:
- In 2013, a stunt by bookmaker Paddy Power saw a wager. A meteorological balloon with a payload was launched, which placed an accumulator wager for a customer when it reached 30 km above Earth.
- In 2021, Jared Isaacman placed a stake from outer orbit aboard SpaceX’s Inspiration4. As mission commander of the orbital mission, the billionaire relayed his bets to his brother, who passed the information to a proxy wagerer, who placed two $4,000 NFL bets at the Las Vegas sportsbook BetMGM.
- In 2022, BetOnline sent two high-altitude balloons 20 miles above the atmosphere. The first had a spinning coin, and the second had an iPad and a robotic arm. The mechanical arm placed a stake on the outer universe coin toss in real-time via a live feed on the iPad. The company then offered customers the chance to gamble on the outcome.
If we fast forward fifty years and assume that universe tourism is an established industry, people will want entertainment in space. Gazing at a Globe and experiencing the vast nothingness of the universe sounds great, but would you do it for two weeks straight?
As humans and wagering have a rich history, it’s likely that it would still be of interest in the future. Staking has evolved from ancient civilizations playing simple plays for a chance to organize betting in medieval times to the creation of physical clubhouses in modern times through online wagering. So why can’t space be next? Instead of locating towns and villages like a Las Vegas-style clubhouse on the Moon, the logical first step would be a structure orbiting the World. Think of it like a futuristic all-inclusive resort or a cruise ship where holidaymakers get everything in one place.
Current cruise ships cater to thousands of holidaymakers whilst in the middle of the ocean. As well as bedrooms, restaurants, and bars, they have entertainment and leisure activities such as water sports, rock climbing, fitness facilities, spas, shows, and, you’ve guessed it, a clubhouse. Even when marooned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, people choose to gamble for entertainment. Would it be a stretch to suggest that they’d want to do the same when suspended in the universe?
What Games Could You Play at a Space Casino?
In Star Wars, they enjoy a high-stakes card game called Sabaac and a holographic chess game, Dejarik. In Battlestar Galactica, they use hexagonal cards to play a fast-paced game called Triad. In the Guardians Of The Galaxy, they bet on which alien rodent (Orloni) is last to get eaten by an even bigger creature (F’saki).
So, what casino contests might we play up there? How will they differ from those on Earth? Will a clubhouse up there, offer incentives like a £20 free no deposit casino uk 2023? Well, if artificial gravity is created to mimic the effects of Globe, people would probably enjoy the matches they play already. This includes slot machines and clubhouse plays such as blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, and craps.
If we fail to master artificial gravity though, then this concept would be a zero-gravity environment. Traditional clubhouse games, which rely on Earth’s rules of physics, would no longer work as designed. For example:
- Roulette: The spinning of the roulette wheel and the movement of the ball would be significantly different, and neither would behave in the same way.
- Poker: The dealing of cards and the handling of chips would be affected, leading to challenges in shuffling, dealing, and playing the game.
- Craps: The movement and randomness of the dice, the handling of chips, and the table format would all be affected with no gravity.
Tables, cards, chips, balls, dice, and even people would aimlessly float around with no central point of gravity keeping them grounded. Traditional table games would need to be adjusted for this zero-gravity environment. Tables and chairs could be bolted down, dealers and players could be seat belted, and cards and chips could use magnets to ‘stick’ to the table. Who knows, maybe even no deposit bonus mobile casino UK would never be the same?
The unique zero-gravity environment could also introduce exciting new competitions of chance and skill. Could they feature dice that float and bounce off the walls or coins that spin endlessly? Could we incorporate liquids, which react differently in space? Will we use more virtual reality, augmented reality, and other unknown technological innovations? Could we pit alien creatures against each other and bet on the outcome?
How Realistic Is a Space Casino?
There are many challenges to overcome before we can gamble up there. As well as the astronomical cost, we’ve already covered the lack of gravity. But what other things need to be considered?
Firstly, humans can’t breathe outside the globe. Casino-goers wouldn’t last too long as there is no air or atmosphere to provide oxygen in the vacuum of space. Similarly, the lack of atmospheric pressure would cause disastrous health risks likely to impact their clubhouse enjoyment. Fortunately, astronauts use specialized pressure suits and a dedicated life support system on the ISS to provide breathable air. Replicating and developing this technology could help make galactical gambling a possibility.
Next, it’s incredibly complex to build an actual one and get it into the universe. They would need to be constructed to withstand the extreme conditions, be launched on a powerful rocket, and then be transported into place.
The clubhouse would require a reliable and sustainable source of power to operate, as well as dependable communication and connectivity with the terrestrial planet. There would need to be a way to transport visitors, supplies, and equipment to and from there, whilst providing a safe and habitable environment for visitors. Finally, there’s legal and regulatory complexity around space ownership and using it for commercial activities. In international space law, it is considered “the province of all mankind”, meaning that the universe is not owned and cannot be claimed.
Instead, it is a shared resource that should be used and treated in a peaceful and cooperative manner for the benefit of humanity as a whole. Just think of the issues that would arise if a billionaire tried to claim the moon or a country decided to invade everything above the Earth’s atmosphere.
Conclusion
As space tourism continues to gain momentum and companies push the boundaries of human travel beyond Earth, the possibility of it becomes a tantalizing prospect. With the potential demand for novel experiences in space, the idea of gambling among the stars isn’t as far-fetched as it initially seems.
While the idea is captivating, it does come with significant challenges and considerations, including technical and logistical hurdles, ethical concerns, and legal and regulatory frameworks. Whether or not, it becomes a part of our future in the cosmos remains to be seen. For now, it’s an exciting and intriguing concept bound to spark the imagination of wagering enthusiasts in this world…and the next.
