Casinos Will Win with Self-Driving Cars
There's a lot of talk about driverless cars these days. When will they hit the roads? Will drivers dare try them? Has the last person to ever receive a driver's license already been born?
A world with self-driving cars is exciting, and the future possibilities are pretty mind-blowing—little to no traffic, a drastic decrease in accidents and more free time for users. We hear a lot about the millions of jobs that will be lost with this new technology, but what about the jobs that will be gained? Sure, the taxis and insurance industry might hurt a bit, but casinos will win.
Think about it. There are 76.4 million baby boomers in the United States, and each day, nearly 10,000 of them retire. Give driverless cars a decade or so to become the norm, and all baby boomers will be 65 to 83 years old.
Where do you think they'll want to go? It's all about the entertainment, baby. With 2.5 trillion hours of leisure time to fill over the next twenty years, seniors want to have some fun. Driverless cars will take them there.
The Entertainment Industry Will Thrive
Leisure only increases in the retirement years. While every generation is different, retirees don't necessarily want to sit at home anymore. Instead, 95% of seniors would rather have enjoyable experiences than buy more things.
Casinos
The casinos better be ready for these self-driving cars. Baby boomers are already casino goers and that's unlikely to change as they age. Gambling is the most frequently identified social activity for those over the age of 65. The slot machines and poker tables already appeal to seniors with rewards programs and amenities like scooters, wheelchairs and waitstaff, but driverless cars will help this industry grow. Baby boomers will be able to travel to casinos whenever they wish. No more bus rides or group trips. Just the glow of the slot machine whenever they want it.
Restaurants
Say seniors currently enjoy eating out once a week. If they don't have to drive themselves anywhere, they just might enjoy going out twice as often. Plus the car will always drop them off right in front of the door. We picture a vast influx of chains popping up all over the country—restaurants designed with the elderly in mind. With comfy chairs, TV screens and menus specific to dietary needs, dining out may just become a social experience that baby boomers want to enjoy more.
Theaters
Comfortable theaters without steps to climb and staff that pays attention to seniors' needs will make theaters a more frequented destination for baby boomers and their self-driving cars. Theaters are the perfect destination for retirees who want to have social outings to see a movie or play with friends or grandchildren.
Self-Driving Cars Design
While the casinos, restaurants and theaters will have plenty of fun planning destinations for the elderly market, how will the baby boomers arrive?
They'll show up in style with self-driving cars designed with millions of retirees in mind—centralized around comfort and convenience. Cars with unfolding ramps will help retirees remain mobile and comfortably padded lift chairs will help seniors up from their seats and out the car door. There may be miniature fridges, reclining seats and areas to store scooters or walkers. All luxuries that cater to the aging population.
As driverless car technology becomes a reality and 76.4 million baby boomers head into retirement, it may be time to jump into the entertainment industry with a new market in mind. We speculate that while there may be a lot unknown about self-driving cars, one thing is for sure: the entertainment industry will boom with this new technology.
