Can I bum a smoke?

As a smoker, one of the many things I love about Vegas is the freedom to smoke almost anywhere! Even there though, I try to be courteous about it. I don't smoke at a crowded table or bar (unless everyone is smoking), don't blow smoke anywhere near someone (especially bartenders), and will even ask people nearby if they mind if I smoke. Really never had any issues with it. There is some mention of smoking negatively on the forums here but not much - and not even close to reading posts on Trip Advisor where it seems 80% of the folks complain about it. Really? It is Vegas... isn't it kind of expected?

However, with so much anti-smoking talk these days, my wife and I always laugh about how often people (non-smokers I assume) ask us for smokes in Vegas! I understand it - folks are out drinking and partying and want to smoke too... No problem! But as you other smokers probably know, it happens A LOT! And while it can be annoying, I've rarely told anyone no. A couple intersting stories from a recent trip:

-Playing VP at Book and Stage by myself early one morning (to get my "free" coffee). There was only a couple of folks there so I was bullshitting with the bartender for the most part. A couple young ladies all dressed up probably still partying from the previous night sit down 6-8 seats away. After they get drinks, one of them asks for a cigarette. "Sure" I say and set the pack on the bar in her direction. She looks at me funny for a minute and looks at the bartender too... I'm thinking you want to bum a cigarette and you want me to get up and bring it to you too? I think that's what she expected... Not gonna happen missy - your not that pretty and I'm old enough to be your dad! Haha... So she sighs and finally walks over. Of course then she says "Can my friend have one too?"... Of course. Over the next hour, three more girls asked for smokes as they stopped for a drink but nothing as weird as the first one. Several also say "Can I buy a smoke for a dollar?". I think that's pretty cool and generous, but never accepted.

-A couple days later at the Palms, wife and I are at the sports bar chatting and having a good time. As a guy is walking by, he stops right behind us and interupts us. "Hey I'll give you this drink slip for a smoke". I was a bit annoyed by the interuption but I tell him no problem but I don't want the coupon. He shoves it in my face and says "look, it's a real - you can use it when your not gambling". I tell him no thanks. He moves to the other side of my wife and shows her the coupon. She says no thanks but offers him a smoke. He finally says ok so she hands him one and he asks if its a menthol? Yep sure is. He says he doesn't like menthols and walks back to me and says "Can I have one of yours - their regular right?"... Now I'm kinda pissed as it seems like this has gone on way too long. "Dude, she offered you a smoke. Take it or leave it but get the hell outta here!". He took it and left. BTW, I also found out they'll comp you smokes a the VP bars there is you play for awhile.

Anyway... just wanted to share some observations. Any one else feel the same way or am I just weird?

 

I get that a lot which is pretty funny since I'm a casino smoker only. I never smoke during my daily life but for some reason when I walk into a casino I light up. But I bring my own! I can imagine trying to bum every time I wanted one. I usually only have men that ask me. I usually give them one but if they annoy me I won't. One time I had the same guy ask me three times at three different casinos. I had to put my foot down the last time.

 

I'm actually embarrassed to bum one from a stranger in most instances. I periodically smoke in the casino/bars but I make it a point to go buy my own....I'd rather just let people be. Never underestimate the nerve of strangers I guess though lol.

 

Same here. I'm a casino/Vegas smoker that takes a puff or two then puts it out and I figure if I can afford to gamble, I ought to be able to afford a pack of smokes. Even at the $13/pack Vegas prices. I figure it's a good investment compared to playing 6:5 blackjack. I think some people are just too cheap to invest in their pleasure or don't want to admit that they bought a pack.

Guess they forget the motto about what happens here staying here.

 

I always order green tea when I'm gambling at the tables and ask for an ashtray so I can put the tea bag in there so it doesn't oversteep.

the cocktail waitresses almost always ask if I want a pack of smokes to go with the ashtray.

they pretty much give them away to anybody.

 

Hey mm...I am curious about getting smokes comped. I would think you would need to play long and hard (sounds perverted) before you could get a packed comped... Can you provide a little more context? Thanks.

 

MM, thank you for being courteous when you smoke. Unfortunately there aren't many who are as considerate.

There has been many discussions on smoking/non smoking, we heard them all but the bottom line is that the casinos don't want to eliminate one segment of gamblers. They did try to set up non smoking tables and areas but it never really took off. I think sam's town has an area with machines that are for non smokers but I'm not sure if there are other casinos like that.

I'm not a smoker but like you some people have asked me if they could bum a smoke, not sure, maybe I look like a smoker? :evillaugh

 

And shifter, after reading all of your trip reports, at your level, they should bring your cartons of smokes along with a young lady from cuba to roll you your own personal Cohibas!

 

As a smoker, i always put the ashtray on the chair next to me and blow the smoke up and out of the dealer and patron's face. Also ask if the smoke is bothering the dealer. I almost always play in the high limit rooms, this is why there is usually empty spots on the table.

Sounds like you had a drunk ppl asking you for a cigarette and I wouldve been annoyed also. Usually the ones that have asked me took what I gave them and were content.

You are right that non-smokers usually ask for one while they are drinking which is understandable.

 

Only happened at the Palms. We'd been there for a couple days and got to know some of the VP bartenders pretty well. At one point he overheard me tell my wife I ran out of smokes and was going to grab a pack from the room. Bartender said hold on a minute and made a phone call. Couple minutes later a "host" showed up and checked my players card. She just smiled and nodded at the bartender and he gave me a two packs... He said it was kind of new deal for them. Of course he got a nice tip! Bartenders were great there to us...

 

I wish that was my experience! Some casinos still have girls walking around with trays of them but I'm pretty sure they charge and probably double normal cost.

 

It's hard to the percentage of smokers that are inconsiderate but there are many times I've sat down at a VP bar and the machines and bar are covered in ashes. It's nasty.

 

Really? I was actually surprised at how clean they were during our last few trips considering how many people smoke and drink at them... Never ran into one I wouldn't play on at several different casinos on strip, off strip, and downtown. I've seen the bartenders wipe them off almost immediately after someone leaves.

 

I agree mm...In my experience, most bartenders are quick with a wipe down of most VP machines. And if they aren't clean, a quick request for a rag and you can wipe it down yourself...no harm. Sorry...just used to being low maintenance and self-sufficient.

 

It happens quite a bit. I've given away half-full packs to people at tables when they keep asking.

It's one thing if you've been playing at a table or a slot for a while and so has the person asking.

But if someone randomly comes at you from the side, or from behind, cover your chips or the cash out button with one hand before you look at them, cause it's also a known diversionary tactic.

 

Yeah, the one guy freaked me out a bit since he was just walking by and looked a little rough. Saw a few like him at the Palms, maybe a local down on his luck... Was also surprised how rude some of the folks were to the bartenders. On a Friday afternoon (I think it was their special pool day?) saw at least a dozen people stop at the bar, put in a $20, play one hand, order a drink, get the drink, cash out and leave with no tip. Bartenders took it in stride though... maybe that's why they liked us so much.

 

I don't smoke and I think that second hand smoke smells worse than actually smoking and what I really hate is smelling like smoke after a night of going out

but at the same time I am one of those people that if I am around most smokers that can't smoke after a while I am ready to buy them a pack and force them to smoke

but more to the point of the OP I think these days with the cost of cigarettes there are PLENTY of people that do their begging/panhandling simply by bumming cigarettes and taking advantage of the "smokers courtesy"

while a few of them might be occasional smokers or smokers when they drink or gamble (like the little princesses), but the "no menthol" guy was just a cheap ass loser that probably bummed 5-6 cigarettes before he even got around to smoking yours

hell I have seen people bum a cigarette and put it behind their ear (always a "classy" look) and walk on down the road or people that already have one either smoking it or behind their ears try and bum another

I can't stand change bums and if I smoked the whole idea that smokers are pretty much suppose to give one when ask would probably drive me to quit and pretty much what I see these days those that are bumming cigarettes with a rare exception will NEVER be in a position to actually have one to get bummed from them......because they never have a pack they always just have one or two they have bummed from someone else.....again like expecting the change bum to ever have a couple of quarters when you run short or don't want to break a large bill

 

My favorite is a few trips ago at Caesars when I almost punched a lady. I too try my best to be a courteous smoker when I can. I was on a wizard of Oz machine already smoking a cig. An older woman sat down next to me and immediately started waving her hands in front of her face. She then expanded her frantic waving to nearly hitting me in the face multiple times. At this point I had had enough and started blowing it her direction. (Not my finest moment, but she was over the line) At the same moment I hit a bonus for around $100 and she got up in a snit and stomped off. I was glad because I was about to get into it with her.
I dislike the cigarette beggars personally because they are not cheap. I bring a carton with me on the trip because I am not paying $10 a pack at the casino. They are cheaper at stage door or I have had to walk to 7 11 behind Ballys when I have run out. CVS stopped selling cigs but I'm not sure about on the strip. If you have the money to be in Vegas gambling, buy your own.

 

Never heard the "smokers courtesy" phrase but I kinda like it... But they are expensive as hell now!

 

That many people are bumming cigarettes? Seems very tacky. Would they go up to someone eating and ask for a couple of french fries too?