Question of the Day - 29 September 2020

As to the question of what would happen if a "whale" were to light up a cigarette:  The casino could maintain its byline and also accommodate the whale by having a private room for him that is separated from the casino such that the cig smoke from the separate room never gets into the air in the casino. I'm a vehement anti-smoke person, but I think that there should be efficient designated places where nicotine addicts can smoke so that they won't suffer.

Many people use Revel as an example of a non-smoking casino failure.

It wasn't the mere fact that they were a non-smoking casino that irritated smokers. The real problem was how badly it was implemented, and that's just the tip of the iceberg of bad management decisions.

It was no smoking ANYWHERE on property, even outdoor areas, and that included the entire boardwalk area in front of the property. Once you got out the front door, it was another 200 yard hike to a smoking zone.

To add insult to smoker's complaints, was the enclosed, outdoor lounge next to the front desk. This was about 100' x 50' oval, with a bar on one end, a small stage on the other, and a fire pit in the middle. Essentially, it was designed as a smoking lounge, but no smoking was allowed.

I'm not a smoker, but that's ridiculous.

Once, while playing poker, a player left 'for a quick smoke'. He was gone almost an hour. When he returned he said it took that long because of how far the smoking zone was.

Anticipating the 'unintended consequences' is essential for big changes in big companies.  The "whale" situation is certain one of those.  Even as important, that management backs up the front line employees who are charged with enforcing it throughout the place.  I hope they don't back down and I hope it succeeds. 

Others missed that golden opportunity to open this way and be done with it.  Too bad.

People who cite Revel as an example never had been there.

Unlike most casinos where the casino is just inside the door, the casino at the Revel was on the 6th floor.  There was room for boardwalk shops that never opened until the casino reopened as Ocean.  All the dealers were newbies.  The casino never had a buffet or a bus lounge, two things every other casino on the boardwalk has.  No coffee shop only restaurants, so nowhere to grab a small bite.  And the casino was under so much debt from its construction.  It being non-smoking wasn't what killed it.

Park MGM is ahead of the other resorts by doing this, it's what the vast majority of tourists and resort employees want, predictions of severe repercussions are greatly overblown. Nearly all other businesses have done this and realized cost-savings, better working conditions and happier customers for the most part. Smokers are resigned to the changing landscape in society, they're already dealing with it everywhere else. And really, why should a small minority of people be allowed to inflict so much annoyance and health risks on others? There will likely be some casinos that allow smoking for some time to come (unless state law changes) but hopefully this trend will catch on. Non-smoking venues are the future, for a lot of good reasons.

Cincinnati casinos are smoke free (you can get a buzz replacement at Starbucks). They are as busy as the other casino. At the other casino, a player has to pass through a gauntlet of concentrated smoke (it is really bad) to get to the well ventilated main casino floor.

The difficulty with NS casinos is that people CAN go elsewhere (next door, even) to a casino that allows it. My wife smokes,,,I do not, but we usually end up where she can smoke and I don't. But in a state where smoking is not allowed in ANY casino, it works. If all the casinos were smoke-free, there would be no problem, even in Vegas, but as long as the smoke-free casinos are in the minority, the smokers and those who travel and gamble with them, will go elsewhere. We go to hotels that have smoking in some hotel rooms, but we get a non-smoking room, but she can walk down to the casino and smoke. So we stay...and ultimately play more, in the casino that allows smoking.

I’m not going to any strip casino at this time no matter what.    Between the COViD factor and the increased violence, decreasing health risks by eliminating second hand smoke is not enough to get me to visit.    Smokers are typically people who don’t mind putting their lives in jeopardy so these factors won’t stop their trips.    This experiment will likely fail again due to the timing of it and many non smokers not wanting to risk their lives to play some slots despite this change.    However, in normal times, this would definitely make me more likely to visit a particular property (be driven to Laughlin in the past just to play at smoke free side of the casino at Harrah’s there)

If it makes the casino money, they will keep it non-smoking.  If it doesn't, smoking will return.  It's a pretty simple equation.

Non smoking with a semi-enclosed covered outdoor gaming area for the smokers. Works well there, but of course there are no other casinos nearby.

"We worry a little about secondhand smoke, given the amount of time we spend in casinos, but we take care of our lungs in various ways ..."

What the hell does this even mean? There is NOTHING you can do to take care of your lungs when you are exposed to second-hand smoke. To suggest otherwise is naive at best.

I think it can be done in the casinos.  Think of the negative-pressure enclosures at the airport.  Casinos are reluctant to give up floor space, but several smaller enclosures scattered around could do it.  They need to be reminded that they lived with change booths forever.  They'd also need to enhance how to save players' spots at the tables, bars, slots, but once it (non-smoking) catches on, it could spread quickly.

Park MGM will attract lots of customers they've never had before who want a smoke-free experience and they may lose other customers who won't go to a non-smoking casino. If they're the only non-smoking casino in town they'll do great. If only ten percent of tourists want the full non-smoking experience, well, who wouldn't kill for ten percent of the Vegas business?

The real issue is that the last time I was at Park MGM there wasn't much special about if besides Eataly. The hotel and casino were both average with nothing special about it. It was freshly renovated but it was still just very generic. Maybe if they try to play into the health angle for the entire hotel, which is hard to do with alcohol being such a draw and profit center, but people don't come to Vegas for logic.

last concern: Smokers who get off the tram from Aria/Bellagio and have to walk through the entire casino to get out. They won't be happy they can't light up on that long walk.

We live in Michigan and go to Soaring Eagle a lot, once they reopened it was non smoking and I don't think they've lost any business. They seem to be as packed as before. I've been to 4 other Indian casinos in the U.P. and they are the same way, non smoking. Also masks are worn at all times except to take a drink. If you forget to pull your mask up, a security guard will remind you. No big deal. 

Does anyone know if this ban applies to chewing tobacco as well? Not that Park MGM is one of my usual haunts but if other places go that route I want to know if I'll have to be more clandestine in packing a chew or if I don't need to worry about it.

A smoker lights up at the Park MGM, sensors detect it, light start flashing, and alarms go off. Tranquilizer darts are fired at the offender from preloaded guns. Robots then take the unconscious smoker and dunk him in a huge tank of water to extinguish his cigarette.

The tank is filled with ravenous sharks, and tickets to view the ensuing feed are available for $19.95; complementary to Uranium and Fifteen Star players.

The signage and official announcement I saw said Park MGM is now "smoke-free and vape-free", they didn't say anything about being "tobacco-free" so if taken literally they just want to eliminate tobacco smoke. That would mean chewing tobacco, snuff and similar smokeless tobacco products are probably allowed. Where I worked when they changed to a no-smoking facility the policy and signs were actually worded to say it was a "tobacco-free" workplace and all tobacco products were forbidden. Park MGM may need to clarify their policy, or perhaps it's just the smoke they don't want and smokeless tobacco is not a problem.

I visited Northern Michigan’s Soaring Eagle Casino last month and was surprised that smoking was allowed in half of the casino. The area to the left was smoking, no smoking on the right. I went back last Wednesday, and on my way out, I realized that I didn’t smell smoke, didn’t see anyone smoking, and saw no ashtrays. I noticed a folding floor sign by the entrance and walked up to see what it said: Smoking No Longer Permitted. 

I don't think @AL's idea is an easy task since I am pretty sure there are regulations about private rooms for gambling. My guess is they might find a way to have the player find a sister property to smoke and play, it's not like MGM is short of other properties.

our next trip to LV will now be the Park.
We hate smoke.

As a non-smoker I give kudos to Park MGM for becoming a smoke-free casino.  Now I will plan to go there without worrying about getting sick from second-hand smoke.  Smokers still have plenty of other casinos to patronize in Las Vegas and I'm sure that Park MGM will provide an enclosed area where smokers can go to inhale all of the smoke that they paid for.