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Question of the Day - 24 February 2022

Q:

Can’t believe I have the courage to ask this, but “back in the old days” most casinos had a scantily clad “cigarette girl”…they weren’t “girls” to say the least and I doubt they would be called that now.  Last one I recall was at the Bellagio like 10 years ago. I seldom go to the Strip, but wonder, does any casino still have the position?

A:

Cigarette girls were once a common sight in 20th-century speakeasies, nightclubs, supper clubs and restaurants, bars, various lobbies, and casinos; they were also popular characters in bygone movies. They carried trays, which strapped around their necks, loaded with packs of cigarettes for sale and often open packs from which they distributed smokes for free; some also sold candy, gum, and novelties. 

Cigarette vending machines pretty much spelled the end of cigarette girls everywhere but casinos, but even then, as recently as the 1990s, casinos set out clear plastic boxes of assorted brands of loose cigarettes at table games, mostly blackjack. They could be a bit stale, but they were free. In addition, pit bosses could comp you individual cigarettes or even packs. So unless you wanted to buy a pack or interact with a scantily clad lady, you could get your smokes easily enough elsewhere.

We can't remember the last time we saw any cigarette girls in casinos. We asked Anthony, who's in Las Vegas casinos practically every day, if he's seen any lately and he responded, "Not for many years and even then, they were mostly in the showrooms."

Has anyone recently seen a cigarette girl in a casino anywhere in the country? 

 

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Comments

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  • Eggheaddoggy Feb-24-2022
    Still around
    Maybe not exactly the same concept as back in the day, but there is at least one - Cosmopolitan that I know of that have women walking around selling “cigars & ciggggarettttes”. Pretty sure Aliante does too  

  • [email protected] Feb-24-2022
    Still around
    Yes, they are around in the poker room at the Tampa, FL Hard Rock. 

  • rhbalto Feb-24-2022
    Cigars, Cigarettes, Tiparillos
    Cigars, Cigarettes, Tiparillos...https://youtu.be/zDGzd2HcEpo
    

  • [email protected] Feb-24-2022
    Yes, Tampa Hard Rock
    Yes, the Tampa Hard Rock Casino has a gal that traverses the casino floor although her tray includes a few other sundry items besides smokes and gum. However, I very rarely "hear" her advertise cigarettes or say anything, mainly when she has eye contact she may say, "Do you need something?"

  • Deke Castleman Feb-24-2022
    This in via email from John
    I was in Vegas last week and saw a cigarette girl at Mandalay Bay. I commented to my wife that I didn't know they still did that.

  • Mark Smith Feb-24-2022
    Paris Cigarette Girls
    Was at Paris last weekend, not many takers but they were there! Just sooo expensive in Vegas at the Casinos, about $16 a pack?Played at Main Street Station and they comped me 2 packs after enough points in, used to be 600 points for one pack but not sure what the minimum is at this point.

  • [email protected] Feb-24-2022
    Show Rooms
    I agree that mostly I've seen them in showrooms, and even then they seem to be selling more stuff like sparkly light novelties than cigarettes.

  • Kageyinprescott Feb-24-2022
    Cigarette Girls
    Late into the 2000’s, when we were regulars at Caesars’ they had cigarette girls walking the casino. 

  • steve crouse Feb-24-2022
    Sahara
    After ogling the cigarette girl at the Sahara back in the late nineties, there really have not been many that caught my eye.
    WOW!
    Bought three packs one evening and gave them away.
    I didn't even smoke back then.

  • Jackie Feb-24-2022
    ROFLMAO
    There goes the idea of ever having non smoking casinos.
    Casinos know how to get junkies to the tables.
    Free booze and free smokes.

  • Kevin Lewis Feb-24-2022
    My ideal cigarette girl
    ...will be armed with a Taser, and will zap anyone who lights up and see that security drags them outside and hurls them into a dumpster.
    
    We're not quite there yet, though, dang it.

  • Ray Feb-24-2022
    Jackie's comment
    Jackie, I was thinking the same thing. And I thought it ironic that this comes the day after the latest poll, in which there are so-o-o-o many "ban smoking!" comments. 

  • Jeff Darling Feb-24-2022
    Just last week
    I stayed at Cosmopolitan last week and there was a gal selling cigs/cigars the whole time I was in the casino.

  • Deke Castleman Feb-24-2022
    This in via email from Derick
    Cigarette girls. Hard Rock Tampa has a girl walking around with cigars and some other items.  Not sure if cigs were in her box. Was there last weekend.

  • Donzack Feb-24-2022
    Update 
    Not for me but maybe reefer girls would be more up to date? Legal?

  • Roy Furukawa Feb-24-2022
    I Hope They're Still Around
    Last time I was at The Cosmo a few years ago they had someone. I think if they still exist, they probably only work the weekend hours when AC is at home getting ready for bed.  :D

  • Mr. Seafood 21 Feb-24-2022
    Cig girls
    There is a cigarette girl that goes back and forth between Flamingo, The Linq and Harrah's. I believe only Thursday through Sunday. The Paris girl goes back and forth between Paris and Bally's.   

  • John Chance Feb-24-2022
    Cigarette girls
    I was at the Cosmopolitan last week and they also have cigarette girls (or maybe a girl) in the casino.  Style right out of the fifties.

  • Doozey Mar-01-2022
    matches?
    About 15 years ago at Bally,s I tried to get a pack of matches from a blackjack dealer.  After a while and two or three other people a pit boss appeared with a matchbook.  Could be collectible

  • Terry Regnier Mar-17-2022
    Yes, Bally's Vegas
    3 weeks ago there were two different "girls" roaming around the floor at Ballys with cigarette/cigar trays. They seemed to focus on the two bar areas.