Indian casinos have found a new amenity to lure customers through the doors and it has nothing to do with gambling. Bowling centers are proving to be a big hit and are increasingly part of planned casinos or ones that are renovating.
For example, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe in Idaho is planning to build a casino off tribal land. Part of the plans call for an eight-lane bowling alley. If built, the casino will be near Mountain Home Air Force base and with families on site will have a place for entertainment.
In 2007, there were approximately 12 bowling centers at tribe casinos. Just eight years later the number had nearly doubled. Now there are 29 bowling centers, a 31.8 percent increase over 2015 and a 141 percent increase over 2007.
One reason for the bowling centers is casinos have discovered it is a relatively inexpensive way to attract casino guests, who want to take a break from gambling. Another positive is that the center can provide an attractive option for league play.
Bowling centers don’t take up a lot of room in a casino, compared to a concert venue or even a miniature golf course. Another plus is they don’t require a huge staff to operate.
They are usually part of an entertainment package at the casino. Movie theaters, arcades and interactive games such as laser tag are often included with bowling centers.
There is certainly a customer base for bowling alleys. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), there were an estimated 41.7 million bowling participants in the U.S. in 2021.
While bowling centers are thriving at Indian casinos, they are disappearing from the U.S. landscape. IBISWorld, a market research company, said bowling centers not on tribal land have declined by 12 percent.
It appears, however, that Native American tribes see the value in bowling centers and they will continue to be part of casinos.
