What States Don't Allow Smoking in Casinos?

As a former smoker, I hate having a fun time at a table and someone comes up and starts smoking a stogie right next to me. So I’m always pleasantly surprised when I find a casino that is totally non-smoking. I believe most, if not all, of these are due to state law. So which states don't permit smoking in casinos? And are there other casinos that don't allow smoking?

You're right that almost all smoke-free casinos are due to state law.

At the website for the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANR), you can download a 21-page pdf of 782 state-regulated gambling facilities required by state law to be 100% smoke-free, plus seven (current and future) Native casinos that are smoke-free by sovereign tribal policy (not including bingo). From the home page, click on the link for Smoke-free Lists and Maps.

According to the ANR, 100% smoke-free gambling facilities are required by the laws of 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. In the rest of the states, either no laws cover smoking in casinos or casinos aren’t allowed.

(We're not vouching for the list or claiming that smoking doesn't go on somewhere in one of the 782 gambling facilities on the ANR list.)

Smoke-free laws in Vermont and Wisconsin apply to state-regulated gambling facilities, but neither state currently has any. Maine’s smoke-free law requires state-regulated gambling facilities opened after July 1, 2003, to be 100% smoke-free, but prior facilities may have a smoking room.

Some casinos, such as the Nugget in Fernley, NV, and the Casino Club at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV, aren’t required by law to be smoke-free, but are by corporate policy. The Nugget in Fernley is, according to ANR, the only completely nonsmoking casino in Nevada.

The website itself doesn’t look like it’s been updated since fall 2015, but the map and the list are current as of July 3, 2017.

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David Liming Jul-31-2017

No Smoking

Casino in Windsor Canada, Caesars Windsor is also non-smoking by local government regulations.

Jeanine Gruetze Jul-31-2017

Palace Resort in Biloxi

Palace Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Ms., bills itself as the only non-smoking casino on the Gulf Coast. It made the change voluntarily in 2011, when it opened a new casino floor. Haven't had a chance to go there yet, but hope to visit this year.

Linda Heffernan Jul-31-2017

smoking in CT

LOTS of smoking goes on in Connecticut casinos. Mohegan Sun has a very small non-smoking section.

Deke Castleman Jul-31-2017

Palace Casino

The following comment was emailed in: 

"Just thought I’d add to your QoD from today about smoking in casinos. The Palace Casino in Biloxi, MS is smoke-free even though smoking is allowed in all other casinos in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area. They advertise their smoke-free status on billboards and they do have No Smoking signs as you enter the casino to ensure patrons are aware that they can’t smoke."

Dave in Seattle. Jul-31-2017

No smoking section?

The Snoqualmie casino and Muckleshoot casinos have a non smoking sections inside the casino in Washington State.Both are Indian casinos.I'm not sure how smoke free the non smoking section really is.   The no smoking signs are very prominent in that section.

Annie Jul-31-2017

First non-smoking casino on the Striip?

In the early '90's, IIRC, Silver City became the first "casino" to adopt a non-smoking policy. 

Silver City, a Circus Circus property, was across the Strip from the Stardust. It was basically just one large room with gambling for low rollers like Slots-A-Fun and dining options confined to hot dogs on a spit under a heat lamp. 

Silver City received a lot of media attention at the time for its going non-smoking and generated a lot of speculation as to whether its move would be the start of a trend. It wasn't, and, IIRC, its non-smoking policy was reversed before its ultimate demise.

[email protected] Jul-31-2017

Non Smoking?

Im Not sure if the Tribes are regulated by state law but smoking is allowed at Both Winstar and Choctaw Durrant Casinos in OKlahoma and all the card room casinos on the outskirts of seattle allow smoking in washington

Charlene Thomas Jul-31-2017

non-smoking

Potawatomi casino has 3 non-smoking areas,near downtown Milwaukee.

Andy Kelleher Jul-31-2017

Palace Casino Biloxi

Palace Casino in Biloxi is a smoke free casino, most if not all other Biloxi casinos are NOT smoke free casinos.

James Black Jul-31-2017

Smoking

Colorado doesn’t allow smoking in any of its casinos, bars or restaurants.  We spent five days in Reno - Lake Tahoe and it was miserable for non smokers.  We had to leave about every 45 minutes just to be able to breathe.  We probably won’t be going to any casinos in Nevada, because of the thick smoke in all of the casinos.  It is so refreshing to go to a casino and not have to deal with the smoking. It is nice to breathe the "mile high" air without choking on the smoke.

Question of the Day - 31 July 2017

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