Last year, slots and social media influencer Brian Christopher was appearing at a smoke-free building in Atlantic City. On a whim, he decided to check out a casino where smoking was permitted.
“One hour on the casino floor was all it took for me to get a throat infection that lasted three weeks,” Christopher says.
For Christopher, who only livestreams from smoke-free casinos, tobacco smoke is a health risk he to which he won’t subject himself or his team at BC Slots.
The gaming industry finally may be listening to Christopher and others long adverse to smoky areas laden with butt-filled ashtrays. Recently, the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas opened a fully enclosed smoke-free gaming area. Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma, went completely smoke free this year. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in Florida this month opened a temporary smoke-free casino in the resort’s events center as it continues to transition more of the resort to be smoke-free.
Another longtime Las Vegas casino, the Plaza Hotel & Casino, instituted a non-smoking space in 2024.
“We saw that younger players were increasingly more interested in a smoke-free gaming space,” says Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel. “Many of our updates and additions have come thanks to the ideas of our guests. So, we first explored a small area on the casino floor and then relocated and expanded it into a fully enclosed smoke-free gaming room during the Main Street renovation project that opened in 2023. We want to offer both options so all our guests can play comfortably.”
As general manager of the Palms Casino Resort, Kevin Glass and his staff solicit feedback from guests every day. One request kept popping up: Guests wanted more non-smoking options.
Thus, the new 7,300 square foot space, with 224 slot games and a dedicated bar that is scheduled to open August 24.
“We’ve seen an overwhelming amount of positive feedback and excitement from guests, and the anticipation just continues to build as we get closer to opening,” Glass says. “That kind of response is always exciting because it shows there’s a real appetite for what’s to come.”
At Choctaw Casino & Resort, Jeff Penz, senior director of casino operations, says “guests were telling us it was time.”
“We’ve received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback since the transition, both on social media and directly from guests on the casino floor,” Penz says. “Many guests have told us they appreciate having a smoke-free environment where they can spend more time comfortably, and we’re hearing that feedback every day.
“The response reinforces that we listened to what our guests were asking for and created an experience that makes many of them feel seen and heard. Our associates and team members have expressed similar sentiments, and we believe creating a more comfortable environment for our team will help strengthen associate satisfaction and retention.”
Brett Ewing, a principal for Cunningham, a Las Vegas architecture and design firm, says non-smoking spaces are trending upwards.
“Today we see the non-smoking sections becoming larger and with more emphasis on quality design,” Ewing says. “We are currently expanding a couple at the properties we work on. Also, the other factor is the health-conscious movement, especially with the younger generations.”
Ewing added, “the new Palms’ space will do very well, in my opinion.”
Cynthia Hallet certainly hopes so. Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, says the recent news from the Palms and Choctaw Casino & Resort is welcome. But she feels more is needed, citing ANR figures that indicate adult smoking rates are at a record low of less than 10%, and more than 90% of casino patrons prefer “clean indoor air.”
“Half-measures like designated non-smoking rooms or expanded sections fall critically short of providing true public health protections,” Hallet says. “Secondhand smoke does not respect imaginary lines on gaming floors, and partial non-smoking areas still leave casino employees and patrons exposed to toxic secondhand smoke. They simply do not offer the complete air quality, safety, and comfort found at the hundreds of 100% smoke-free indoor casinos operating successfully across the United States.”
Going non-smoking also appears to be economically feasible. According to Choctaw’s Penz, there has been no decline in revenue.
“We have not experienced an economic or visitation dip since reopening the smoke-free environment,” Penz says. “Our business has remained strong, which reinforces that offering a smoke-free gaming environment is expanding our appeal rather than replacing our existing business.”
Jossel says that the Plaza continually reviews how “amenities are resonating with our guests” and that flexibility is a consideration in any possible expansion of non-smoking areas.
“For now, we continue to be pleased with the positive feedback we get from our players to the smoke-free space, and we are proud to be the only casino downtown to offer a dedicated, completely smoke-free gaming area,” Jossel says. “That said, the space is not necessarily in its final state as the plan was always to integrate it into a non-smoking food court, which has taken longer than expected to complete. Once the food hall is fully renovated with new F&B venues and it opens seamlessly to the smoke-free casino, we think it will be even busier and a better destination.”
It’s too early to evaluate the popularity of the new room at the Palms. Glass says the room will be monitored before any expansion.
“A big part of our approach is staying focused on what’s next while continuing to build on what’s working today,” Glass says. “We look closely at guest feedback, performance, and broader market trends to understand where opportunities exist and how expectations are shifting. Our goal is to stay responsive to those expectations and continue exploring opportunities that support the property’s long-term strategy and guest experience.”
Christopher is heartened that there are more non-smoking spaces available. He says non-smoking spaces are partially a decision by casinos, with feedback from customers, that smoke no longer equals profitability.
“Gone are the days where casinos have to choose health over profits,” Christopher says. “They’re finally coming around to realizing that smoke-free casinos are actually preferred by staff, patrons and that includes smokers!
“Even smokers don’t want to breathe in toxic air the whole time. And they most certainly are already accustomed to going outside to light up while at a bar, restaurant and even their own home.”
