October 1, 2023 1:41 pm

Local News

Smoking May be Banned in Casinos

Credit: iStock

Mohamed Bughrara

Due to mask regulations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, smoking was prohibited in Las Vegas casinos which forced smokers to smoke outside.

Recent data indicates that deciding whether to permit smoking in casinos may not actually be a difficult decision.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal said that C3 Gaming, a Las Vegas-based corporation, released a 30-page analysis suggesting that limiting or banning smoking in casinos won’t have a significant impact on revenue.

The number of Americans who smoke cigarettes has decreased more than ever, according to Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor at UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, who spoke to the newspaper. She predicted that the trend of more non-smoking spaces would continue. 

As of right now, MGM is the only completely smoke-free casino on ‘The Strip’. While additional casinos might imitate that move as a sort of marketing ploy to draw non-smokers, a complete prohibition would probably require state-level legislation, which is a different conversation altogether.