New Report Suggests Smoking Bans No Longer a Threat to Casino Revenue

Here is the article:
https://apnews.com/article/covid-politics-health-new-jersey-b712894e300afa2bf2021e7ef00f2956

Here is the report:
https://bit.ly/3zKeBZ8

 

We can only hope the Vegas casino heads read the report.

 

I agree. It's way past time smoking was banned in casinos.

 

40/60 currently.

 

Non smoker and prefer playing in a non smoking environment.
But would NOT like to see smoking banned. We should have choices and casinos should be able to separate smoking and non smoking effectively.

I hope the findings lead to reasonable changes that will accommodate everyone without alienating one group from another.

 

Or at least becomes less pervasive. I don't smoke, and don't like smoke, but I do think there's still a market for casinos that allow it. However, ParkMGM has showed pretty clearly that there's also very much a market for smoke-free casinos. Not only do I hear a lot of people praise it, but on a number of occasions I've mentioned that ParkMGM is smoke-free and heard something along the lines of, "Oh, that's what was so nice about it! I didn't even realize". Non-smoking is generally the norm these days.

 

Isn't surprising people are willing to postpone one addictive behavior for a little while to engage in another!

 

I think we will see a mix of things in the future, some which may have a mix of smoking/non-smoking, and some where the entire casino is non-smoking. Issue with trying to create zones is that of enforcement and layout; some casinos would be hard-pressed or find it impossible to be able to make such zones. If people don't like a particular casino's policy they'll vote with their feet and bankroll. I also do think that at least in Nevada we won't see any ban at the government level.

Makes me wonder if any other property in Vegas could go smoke-free ala ParkMGM. Peopled hoped there would be more after ParkMGM, but that hasn't happened yet...

 

Ban smoking but allow vapers! My blueberry vape smells quite good (to me least)

 

I don’t smoke anymore, but went to Harrahs In NOLA before I quit, and really didn’t mind it as they had plenty of smoking sections! I just wish there was a way to hold the machine you want to keep playing on while you took a smoke break!

 

it's a big part of why I like Park MGM.

IMO, I could live with some in Vegas having it but it being generally banned in locals. Park MGM shows the market can support a choice, and it wouldn't surprise me to see another property or two go this way over time. Locals you're better to force it on them to create a level playing field and to make it reasonable so that someone doesn't have to drive 45 minutes to get to the one place in their area with no smoking. Some of them are also really, really gross due to the smoke, unlike an Aria, where I really don't notice it much unless I'm right next to someone.

It's always amazed me a bit that the Culinary Union doesn't get more fired up about this in NV. The workers are the real losers under the current approach, not players. Spending 240 days a year in a smoky casino seems like a way to lose years of your life

 

You divide the casino into two equal sections, table and electric games, bars etc. wait 60 days unless obvious prior, adjust the square footage for more or less smoking. Adjust after another 60 days using whatever; coin in, average bet, profit etc.
play to the clientele preferences adjust for the market.
How much ARE cigarettes these days? THOSE are the people not paying attention to 6:5 or paytables…. Money to burn

 

I have a feeling they're waiting to see what happens in New Jersey, where there's talk of a regulatory ban, and also looming potential for a strike. The thing is that the only real precedent for a non-smoking casino before ParkMGM was Revel in Atlantic City, which was an unmitigated disaster. There are a lot of reasons that the place crashed as hard as it did, but the no-smoking policy is often cited as a key factor (I personally think that it didn't help, but was also just one of many issues the place had). So there's an enormous amount of hesitancy on the part of casino workers, because they've had to balance the health concerns with the very real possibility of losing their livelihood if it doesn't work out.

 

It's not that bad in Nevada, about $8.50 a pack at Walgreen's. Different story in NYC, but it's not really "money to burn" type of prices here.

 

Stereotyping there Bubba; drugs/addiction is expensive and nicotine is an addictive drug. People pay $20 for a drink too. For many gambling is an addiction and often those who may have that addiction are cheered on to continue here on VMB.

Let’s discuss without stereotyping.

 

Yeah, so not to call you out specifically, but I would take smoke over a *lot* of vape flavors. My friend has this mango one that she loves, but the smell makes me want to vomit. Another has a vanilla one, and it's the same for me. I'd much prefer smoke.

 

Oh I’m speaking from experience. Uncle Nic had me by the balls. Escape from his clutches was probably the most mentally challenging thing I’ve ever involved myself with.
Addiction is not fun. Nor to be trivialized.
If I did I apologize but you ain’t getting over it until you WANT to get over it. It’s how addiction works.

 

In North Carolina (the heart of smoking USA) the two Harrahs have remained smoke free since Covid and certainly are not suffering

 

I don’t smoke, so I could say “don’t care”. But I hate bans and things being banned. So, let casinos decide. How does Park MGM fare, numbers-wise? Because I like it being smoke free, but I don’t nearly hate smoke enough to not stay/play at other casinos.

 

That comes across as judgmental.
Some people smoke
Some people don’t smoke
Some people gamble
Some people don’t gamble

All people get to ‘burn’ their own money as they choose