Las Vegas Casinos Face Pressure to Go Smoke-Free Amid Changing Public Opinion

Las Vegas casinos are feeling the heat to adopt smoke-free policies as investor pressure and shifting public opinion gain momentum. While most Las Vegas Strip resorts still permit smoking on their gaming floors, an increasing number of people are urging casino operators to reconsider. Park MGM stands out as a trailblazer in this regard, being the only major property on the Las Vegas Strip to completely ban indoor smoking—a rule they implemented in 2020. Although some visitors remain unaware of this policy, others, like Amy Chamberlain from California, cite it as a reason for choosing to stay there, according to Las Vegas Weekly.

Recent studies underscore the growing momentum on this issue. A survey conducted by the Nevada Tobacco Control and Smoke-Free Coalition revealed that over two-thirds of voters support smoke-free casinos. This data has prompted organizations like the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) to submit proposals to several major gaming companies, encouraging shareholders to commission studies on the costs and benefits of implementing no-smoking policies. Even though many companies attempted to keep these proposals off their shareholder ballots, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) intervened, allowing the votes to proceed. So far, 8.6% of Wynn Resorts investors and 11% of Boyd Gaming shareholders have

Recent studies underscore the growing momentum on this issue. A survey conducted by the Nevada Tobacco Control and Smoke-Free Coalition revealed that over two-thirds of voters support smoke-free casinos. This data has prompted organizations like the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) to submit proposals to several major gaming companies, encouraging shareholders to commission studies on the costs and benefits of implementing no-smoking policies. Even though many companies attempted to keep these proposals off their shareholder ballots, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) intervened, allowing the votes to proceed. So far, 8.6% of Wynn Resorts investors and 11% of Boyd Gaming shareholders have backed these initiatives, with similar votes planned for Caesars Entertainment and Penn Entertainment.

Despite these percentages not yet representing a majority, ANRF’s Bronson Frick views the support as a significant indication of changing attitudes. He highlighted that investors are expressing their concerns even when faced with resistance from management, suggesting that these tendencies could shape future policies. Industry experts argue that fears of declining revenue might be exaggerated. Studies by UNLV researchers and other independent groups suggest that smoking bans have a negligible impact on gaming income. In fact, some smoke-free properties have shown signs of improved performance. Professor Ashok Singh, co