When Isleta Resort and Casino reopened after the COVID shutdown, it implemented a mask requirement that meant no longer allowing customers to smoke inside. Casino officials told an interim legislative committee Wednesday that they’ve decided to maintain the ban indefinitely and, despite fears to the contrary, the policy actually boosted its bottom line.
CFO Diana Howard said there was some complaining among smokers about the new policy at first, “but now it is the new norm.”
“It’s kind of become accepted in our environment,” she told the panel.
And the bad reviews the casino used to get about the stench have ceased too.
