Smoke-Free Casino Advocates Make Their Presence Known at Global Gaming Expo

Posted on: October 6, 2021, 06:58h.

Last updated on: October 7, 2021, 10:19h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Nevada is one of 10 states where gamblers inside a commercial casino can smoke freely across the gaming floor. Anti-smoking advocates say change is long overdue.

smoke-free casinos G2E Las Vegas — An editorial cartoon published in July in New Jersey’s Star-Ledger is being used by anti-smoking advocates who say it’s time to end casino smoking. A press conference was held this week at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. (Image: *Star-Ledger*)

The gaming industry has gathered in Las Vegas this week for the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). The annual trade show — which was postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic — brings together industry stakeholders and professionals at The Venetian Expo.

The Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is in town, too. The group, seeking to eliminate indoor smoking throughout casinos, held a press conference yesterday at G2E. Advocates spoke loudly to the need to extinguish indoor smoking.

“We know better, let’s be better,” declared Nicole Vitola, a table games dealer at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.

Patrons are allowed to sit down and smoke at the tables. The dealer is unable to walk away, turn around, or even wave the smoke away without facing disciplinary action from management,” Vitola told the media in attendance. “Many casinos have gone smoke-free since the pandemic. But too many continue to put profits over health, even as we’ve seen the casinos thrive by operating smoke-free.”

G2E typically attracts nearly 30,000 attendees each year. But with coronavirus concerns and international travel restrictions remaining, American Gaming Association (AGA) President Bill Miller expects that number to be lower this week.

Coalition Forming

The ANR has been at the forefront of the push to make all casinos smoke-free in the United States. The organization has held several recent rallies, including one in late June on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. They are urging the public to tell their lawmakers to close the clean-air loophole that continues to allow casino smoking in New Jersey.

The ANR event yesterday detailed reports of casino workers contracting serious diseases, such as cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The workers say they’ve never personally consumed tobacco products

Other coalitions are emerging to work with and support the ANR nationwide effort. A new group called Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) attended Tuesday’s G2E conference, as did Smoke-Free Truckee Meadows.

“I understand change is hard, but it’s time for casinos to go smoke-free. We’ve seen so many states, a couple of cities, and a lot of tribes that have adopted smoke-free casino policies and laws, and people still come,” said ANR President Cynthia Hallett.

Union Support

The Culinary Union wasn’t in attendance in an official capacity during the ANR meeting yesterday. But the largest casino workers trade union lent its support to making gaming floors free of harmful smoke.

It’s long overdue for an entirely smoke-free casino in Las Vegas, and the Culinary Union is completely supportive,” the union said a statement to NBC News 3 Las Vegas.

ANR’s Hallett took issue with G2E, in that worker health has largely been left out. Yet it features events on numerous aspects of the gaming industry.

“Absent from the programming is a focus on casino worker health and safety,” Hallett declared. “We don’t expect to hear much about the unreasonable choice too many gaming workers are forced to make every day. And that’s a choice between their health and a paycheck.”

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LouisGreen October 15, 2021

The majority of casinos are very large. It would make sense to have well ventilated enclosed smoking section . The dealers could be ones who wish to work in the room for extra pay . Smokers could even be charged 1.00 to enter they will pay it and this could also go toward the dealers pay. It adds up. I myself enjoy a cigar at the casino and would like a bar area for that , poker rooms have been smoke free forever.
Brian October 14, 2021

Smoking indoors is a business decision that is weighed by the operator based on public demand. You can educate people to make good choices, but you shouldn't take their freedoms away. If smoking in a casino was a cultural problem, they wouldn't have any patrons. They would all go to non-smoking properties. Same for employees. They have the ability to choose their line of work (Thank you America!). If you don't like the smell of coffee, you shouldn't be a barista.
Connie Townsend October 13, 2021

Dear Nicholas to you and other self righteous do gooders. YOU do not get to decide what others can and can not do and where they do it! The people of this country should have NEVER allowed all the ANTI smoking regulations to have been put in place to begin with they violate private property rights. We have been conditioned to comply, and the anti smoking agenda was the start of it STOP COMPLYING!!!!, All anti smoking rules NEED to be reversed and let private property owners decide!!!! Nicholas as a matter of fact one of the most comprehensive study that was ever done (over the course of 10 years) by two scientists who actually followed the real DATA , studied the effects of non smokers LIVING with smokers and found virtually ZERO effects. But of course that study was squashed and the two were hung out to dry because their info did not fit the narrative being pushed by those funding the study..........The big money BUSINESS of the American Cancer Society.....!!!!!! The anti smoking agenda was about CONTROL over the minions, and still is, and we willingly caved in over the fear that was created. .And Nicholas just so you know OSHA does NOT classify cigarette smoke as a class one carcinogenic ..just F.Y.I. But you should seriously consider finding a new job if your casino allows smoking and you don't like it. Have a great day!
Stephen Hinkle October 13, 2021

I think is about time that all Casinos go smoke-free on the gaming floor. The number of Smokers in the USA and around the world continues to drop and is currently below 19%. Plus, the smoke is a serious health hazard for the patrons and workers and it contains cancer causing chemicals and Carbon Monoxide. Why not have the casinos adopt clean air inside and people can breathe healthy while playing the slots, blackjack, poker, or any other casino game. Smoke free air is much more comfortable. If Casinos are worried about smokers changing their betting strategy if they go outside to smoke, they should sell some nicotine patches where one can put on and play without having to go outside and not pollute the air while playing.
Nicholas Vitola October 8, 2021

Hi there, Connie. What’s truly amazing is your level of ignorance. Yes, the casino workers knew what they were signing on for twenty years+ ago when they started in the industry. Back then, almost 20% of the U.S. population smoked and you were allowed to smoke just about anywhere except hospitals and airplanes. Now, in 2021 the percentage of smokers is less than 15% and dropping every year. There has been sweeping legislation that now prohibits smoking in just about every public area EXCEPT CASINOS! Many of the people who are getting into the industry now are immigrants who don’t speak the language very well and are afraid to lose their jobs. The folks speaking out about this issue should be commended for advocating for their views-workers health. As for owner’s rights, companies also had no problem with child labor and 80 hour workweeks with no safety provisions back in the 1800s. Things change, new information becomes available and companies are legally required by OSHA to provide a safe work environment for employees. The “get a new job” argument is tired. If you want to smoke in your own house and kill yourself, be my guest…but I’ll be damned if you’re going to come to MY job and kill me with your filthy cigarettes. Have a nice day!
Connie Townsend October 6, 2021

Amazing...ALL of the casino workers KNEW before taking the jobs that the casinos allow smoking but yet they still took the jobs.. Find a new job! Most casino workers will need to look for a new job if casinos ever went smoke free anyways...People want to smoke WHILE playing.. Private property rights, owners choice!. Read the constitution!