Smoke-Free Casinos in the US
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The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation has compiled a list of U.S. gaming properties where smoking is banned. California has 108 such properties, Wyoming has three, and Montana has 198.
There is a debate about the health hazards of smoking in casinos. Some executives argue that smoking bans lead to a decline in revenue and employee layoffs. Tammy Brady, a New Jersey casino employee undergoing breast cancer treatment, says customers blow smoke into her face.
Park MGM in Las Vegas implemented a smoking ban in 2020. NoMad Las Las Vegans also banned smoking. Some casinos in the US do not ban smoking, because they make more money from slot machines in smoking areas. In New Jersey, the governor is considering a bill outlawing smoking at gaming properties. The Facebook group "Casino Employees Against Smoking Efforts" has comments from people worried about the health risks of secondhand smoke and the possible spread of COVID-19.
The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation's list of gaming properties where smoking is prohibited has grown to 1,034 locations. The list includes tribal casinos, commercial resorts, California card rooms and sites such as the slots area at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
Smoking ban could cause a decline in gaming revenue at Atlantic City casinos. About 22,000 people work in Atlantic casinos, including part-time and full-year employees. A decline could have a negative impact on programs for the elderly and disabled.
The G3 Gaming report notes that the pandemic has changed patrons' expectations upon entering a casino. The report was compiled without funding from outside sources. At tribal casinos, smoke-free environments became accepted during the Pandemic. Even after mask mandates were lifted, smoking prohibitions remained in place at those properties. Nonsmoking properties perform better than those that continue to allow smoking.
Nevada has a smoke-free casino, Park MGM, on the Las Vegas Strip. Any facility with legal gaming, including the slot machine area at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, is considered for inclusion on a non-smoking list.
Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas are smoke free. Plaza hotel-casino is building a non-smoking slot machine area.
Some casinos allow smoking, but more than 1,000 casinos across the county are smoke free.
There are several gaming sites in Arizona that are smoke free.
The list of smoke-free casinos in the U.S. was compiled by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation.
