What is it with casinos and small water bottles?

I've noticed this in virtually every casino I've gone to in North America... no matter where you go, every time you order water on the casino floor you get a little 8 oz bottle like the one below, and I've always wondered why this is.

The alternatives of course, being to serve water in a glass (so as to reduce waste) or in a single-use cup (which probably costs less than a water bottle and doesn't take up as much storage space). Or perhaps serving a larger water bottle... since I find I often ask for more than one of these small waters in a given serving. I rarely, if ever, see small water bottles like these outside of casinos.

Any insight as to why that may be? I can't be the only one who's noticed this.

 

I think there are many reasons for this:

• They are branded for that casino - free advertising.
• There is a notion (whether correct or incorrect) that bottled water is cleaner.
  
• The cost is probably less than a glass when you factor in the labor required to clean, breakage, etc. at the volume they are ordering
  
• I've noticed that CWs usually carry a couple around on their normal drink tray, so presumably the bottles are easier for them.

My theory is that they are small to get you to order (and tip) more. I make it a habit to always order a couple bottles every time.

 

But we got rid of plastic straws. Haha.

 

At least in the Vegas market, they're all made by the same company. It's got some generic name, I want to say "Premium Waters" or something like that. It reduces waste, because many people barely even finish their original bottle, and they're easier to ship. Given how flimsy the plastic is, I'd bet it's a lower environmental impact than washing a glass.

Yes, that's policy at most places, the CWs have to have a couple of them on their tray whenever they leave the service bar.

Those can't be recycled, is the thing.

 

Oh yeah... nvrm, lol.

 

Husband often orders a bourbon, whiskey or what have you with a water back. Always receives the brown liquor neat with a small water bottle.
Easier to carry on a tray and to give away when someone asks for a water.

 

All the local casinos around here have self service soda machines that also have water and sometimes carbonated water as well. Though they still have the petite sized water bottles the CWs carry.

 

SOME cocktail waitresses carry extra around. I have been at places where they do not. The SMART ones have them as it is easy and quick buck a bottle (in most cases). I often do not order one but will get one if they have it - since I jump around too much. Without fail, if I order water, or any drink and then wait for the CW - it ends up costing me hundreds on THAT machine. LOL!

 

Cost issues perhaps???

 

1. People want something in a sealed bottle
2. Twice as many "servings" in the same amount of space (and cost probably)
3. Fewer half-full bottles left lying around to deal with

 

And weight. Bottles of water get pretty heavy. Grab a 12 pack of poland springs and try to carry it around like a cocktail waitress. Those trays are heavy enough to begin with when loaded with drinks.

 

Last time my buddy and I were out there, we're convinced that Las Vegas doesn't want you to drink water and they don't want you to know what time it is. (Ever seen a clock on a casino floor?)

 

I've taken to just getting one every time I get a drink and then stockpiling what's left in the room. The 8 oz bottles are popular around here because they're smaller and they come in handy for group gatherings at work or kids lunches or whatever.

 

They also make wonderful “disguised “ flasks for clear liquors, especially in casinos that charge for drinks!

 

You don't want to serve customers LV water, so that leaves bottles.A larger size would be more costly to the casino and in a lot of cases, wasted. If you want more just ask. I rarely drink while gambling, so water is my most constant choice. You normally won't finish the small bottle before a server returns, but if you do ask for two. I've done this numerous times and never been turned down.

 

The water bottles also get left behind a lot by people playing at slots and tables. I know I have walked away from the craps table and left a half full bottle on the rail and only remembered about 5 min later that it was there. The amount of waste if they gave full sized bottles and people did that would be ridiculous.

 

I usually buy my water from the toothless guy on the crossover from Bally’s to Cromwell. It is full sized, comes ice cold from his cooler, and only costs a dollar.

 

Cost, weight, waste . . . another possibility is balance. The bigger bottle would be more likely to tip or fall from the server's tray.

 

To me the biggest issue is waste. Even with the small bottles you will still see a pile of them sitting around quarter or half full. Why pay 50% more cost for something you are going to be lugging out to the trash compactor?

 

Cosmo has the small water bottles but in December when I was camped out at Wonka for quite a while, the CW brought me large bottles of Fiji water.