Indoor smoking in casinos has long been a contentious issue, with places like Atlantic City even seeing legal action by concerned employees
In a recent open letter to various gambling regulators across the USA, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) urged gaming officials to ban indoor smoking in casinos and other gambling establishments. The letter highlighted that allowing indoor smoking on gaming floors is dangerous, poses health hazards to employees and patrons, and contradicts responsible gaming principles.
Indoor Smoking Has Direct Ties to Gambling Harm
ANR argued that smoke-free environments could not only improve public health but also promote more responsible gambling behaviors by naturally limiting the time players spend at machines or tables. The letters also cite a study from Vegas-based consultant company C3 Gaming that highlights the link between smoking and problem gambling.
Smoking on gaming floors…undermines responsible gaming by encouraging addictive behavior as well as prolonged gambling sessions without taking breaks.
ANR letter
The National Council on Problem Gaming (NCPG), the leading US gambling harm prevention organization, has continuously urged for an indoor casino smoking ban across all jurisdictions. The NCPG noted that a smoke-free policy can get smokers to go outside regularly and may help eliminate continuous gambling, which is frequently associated with gambling harm.
The ANR letter also cited data from New Jersey, known to be one of the most critical areas experiencing gambling addiction, as approximately 6.3% of the adults in the state struggle with gambling problems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey temporarily banned indoor smoking in casinos as part of public health measures but later lifted the restriction.
Banning Smoking Could Hurt Casino Revenues
Despite publicly acknowledging the harmful link between smoking and gambling addiction, few casinos have stepped up to implement smoke-free policies. The letter alleged that gambling establishments had an incentive to keep patrons inside as long as possible, explaining their reluctance to ban smoking despite rising public pressure, as such a measure could potentially hurt their revenues.
A [2022] study commissioned by the Casino Association of New Jersey projects gaming revenue losses based on smokers having to take breaks, which is the antithesis of one of the principles of responsible gaming.
ANR letter
Anti-smoking tensions reached their peak in Atlantic City. Casino workers frustrated by what they feel is a lack of protection against secondhand smoke recently filed an appeal with the New Jersey Supreme Court. They argued that state protections, customary in other sectors, are denied to gambling sector employees because casinos receive special exemptions.
ANR seeks to correct these issues and is urging policymakers and gaming commissions to take a hard look at how allowing smoking inside casinos undermines efforts to foster responsible gaming environments. The organization has invited regulators from Nevada, New Jersey and other jurisdictions to meet and discuss how smoke-free policies could enhance the safety and health of patrons and employees while promoting responsible gambling.
