How Is the Park MGM Doing Financially as a Nonsmoking Casino?

Is the Park MGM doing well financially as a nonsmoking casino?

We can't give you numbers, as casino corporations report only total revenues for all their operations and don't break down financials by casino.

But anecdotally, we can tell you that for various reasons, not the least of which is to catch the tram to and from Aria and Bellagio, we walk though Park MGM fairly frequently and we always note that the place isn't hurting for business. The casino and sports book are comparatively small, but patrons apparently appreciate the smokeless atmosphere, since it's usually rammin' and jammin', as Max Rubin would say. Also, when the big 6,400-seat Dolby Live has a show going on, the place is packed. And with the popular Eataly and Crack Shack, plus La La Noodles, Bavette's steakhouse, and NoMad Library, all of which we've reviewed in LVA, Park MGM has plenty of amenities to attract patrons.

Perhaps the best way to know that the smoke-free policy has been a success is that it's going on two and a half years since Park MGM reopened after the COVID shutdown in September 2020 prohibiting cigarettes and cigars. We imagine that if it wasn't doing well financially, there'd be some noise about it.

Finally, the last time we asked about a year ago, Park MGM President Ann Hoff told us, “We found through our research that there was a significant market of people out there who were looking for smoke-free options, specifically a smoke-free casino. Fortunately for us, that has been very very well received. Anybody who prefers smoke on the casino floor still has a large number of options throughout our company [MGM Resorts] and throughout the city. In addition, at Park MGM, we do offer a dedicated smoking area outside for those who really like the notion of a smoke-free environment inside, but an option to smoke outside.

"So all in all, I would say we've received incredibly positive feedback from our guests and, being the first entirely non-smoking casino in Las Vegas, it’s a very positive differentiator.”

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Justin Feb-07-2023

Breath of Fresh Air

I hope the smoke free concept grows. Just walking through a regular casino agitates my lungs with all the smoke.

pivoss Feb-07-2023

Fun Vacuum

Place was always a graveyard at any time of the day when it was Monte Carlo. Great to see it perked up.

Straski Feb-07-2023

Caesars Palace

While walking through Caesars Palace years ago someone behind my wife and I said "I can't believe they allow all of this smoking in here." My wife turned around because she agreed wholeheartedly with the comment. And that person was her heart throb movie idol Robert Urich. Sadly he passed from cancer the following April 2002.

reinger Feb-07-2023

Not the first

Correct me if I’m wrong but Silver City went smoke free many years ago. Granted it was a small casino but we enjoyed it especially when it was smoke free. I still have some paraphernalia stating it was “the only one in Vegas” around here somewhere.

Dorothy Kahhan Feb-07-2023

This should be the standard rather than the exception

Let's hope that this becomes the start of a trend toward all casinos going smoke-free.

RichM Feb-07-2023

There are many nonsmoking casinos throughout the US

It's no longer a hypothetical question. There are many nonsmoking casinos throughout America, and many others that are mostly nonsmoking but with some smoking areas. They appear to be doing well. 

The vast majority of Americans don't smoke cigarettes and many prefer smoke-free environments. COVID limits helped casinos get real-world data on being smoke-free (rather than asking current patrons, which obviously excludes those who weren't going due to the smoking), with some choosing to remain smoke-free even once allowed to bring back smoking.

Vegas Fan Feb-07-2023

Ann hoff

Is wrong; reinger is right. Maybe the whole hotel is smoke free?

Kevin Lewis Feb-07-2023

Stink-sticks

I can't count the number of times I've had to abort a video poker or blackjack session because somebody sits down next to me and lights up a pigarette. I think that that should constitute an affirmative defense against murder, as poisoning the air someone is breathing constitutes criminal assault.

VegasVic Feb-07-2023

Love it

My local casino went non smoking a couple of years ago and I love it.  The dealers do too. 

@reinger - you are correct, Silver City did go smoke free in 1991 and rescinded it in 1994. It closed in 1999.

Hoppy Feb-07-2023

No Smoke No problem

The casino in Cincinnati is smoke free. It has as much vitality as the casino, in Indiana, which allows smoking.

jay Feb-07-2023

Employees

I am surprised that some enterprising young lawyer hasn't convinced the unions that they stand to make a lot of money for their members by filing a class action suit against unsafe working conditions. Not sure if there is a dealer union but there certainly is for Culinary workers, cleaning staff, bell hops etc. The lawyers always stand to make the lions share of the money. 

Harrahs Laughlin has a no smoking section - but unless its in a walled off separate location this is still like a no-peeing section of a pool. 

You can't go to a mall anywhere in the US and light up not sure why casinos are different.

Canadian Laws prevent indoor smoking anywhere in public and you are required to be 9m (25ft) away from a commercial building so huddling under an overhang is a no-go. If you have kids in your car - Driving your personal vehicle while smoking is considered child endangerment. Court appearance for sure, not just a fine, and perhaps the child-welfare people get involved.

[email protected] Feb-07-2023

Canadian Math?

"Jay" wrote: "....required to be 9m (25ft)..." At least in America a meter is a little MORE than 3 feet...not less. And btw didn't Bob and Doug McKenzie light up some smokes on their TV show "The Great White North" sometimes? Coo loo coo coo....coo loo coo. coo...

Roy Furukawa Feb-08-2023

Indication it’s not that popular

I get offers from MGM properties and Park always has the highest amount of offers in comparison to Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Aria, Bellagio and equal to Luxor and Excalibur. That indicates to me the company either views the property as downscale (doubtful) or they have trouble filling rooms.

Renee Austin Feb-09-2023

Exactly

This is one reason why we don't go to LV as much anymore, CO is smoke-free, and it's not worth the hangover feeling after a day of being in a smoke filled NV casino.

David Sigalow Feb-11-2023

TheD

The wife and I were frequent guests of the Monte Carlo. Several years ago, when MGM corporate was contemplating a re-branding, my massage therapist (who was privy to internal discussions due to her seniority) told me that internal market research revealed that the MC was the place that guests booked after their first choice was either too full or too pricey. Management, she opined, was looking for a way to make the MC a property that had its own loyal customer base and was not always the "second choice." It appears that going non-smoking and installing that casual food-and-shopping area in front may have done the trick, and it's nice to hear it's doing well.

Question of the Day - 07 February 2023

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