Casinos and smoking

[MuirWannabe]

I went to a casino this past weekend. Not Vegas but somewhere else.

I know, not exactly a LBYM type of thing to do. Especially with my blackjack results. But I do love the games so fortunately casinos are not very close to where I live.

The lasting impression with me are the people and the smoking. My gosh. I was naive enough to think most people really didn't smoke anymore. But everyone at a casino does. Young and old. It was disgusting. The smell was terrible. It gets in your nose, eyes, clothes, and everything.

I've never tracked tobacco stocks but I'm actually thinking about it now. I don't know how much a cig pack costs but I'm sure they are taxed through the roof. But it did not matter to any of these fine folks. A truly recession proof industry.

What I really wonder is can a non-smoking casino survive? Seems like a real opportunity. But then one wonders. It would sure make it more pleasurable for DW and me. But somehow I'm guessing a non smoking casino would fail. I'm sure the numbers have been considered by those greedy old casino owners. And for now smoking reigns.

Anyone else like to gamble but hate the cloudy atmosphere?

 

[BigNick]

I've set foot inside a casino about 3 times in my life, in 3 different countries. Each time I expected to see men in tuxedos surrounded by babes, and i was disappointed. Just row upon row of people playing slots, with the thousand-yard stare.

The one time I went in Las Vegas, I played the quarter slots. I put in four quarters and won five. I left. I'm on a lifetime plus score in Vegas.

Back to the OP: given the preponderance of overweight, listless people in there, I'm not surprised that they were all smoking as well. It's not an attractive lifestyle. Good luck in the tuxedo at the baccarat table, though.

 

[jimnjana]

I'm sure research supports casinos to basically cater to smokers. Are smokers generally more prone to taking risks?

 

[bbbamI]

I love to gamble and have been in Vegas at least 20 times.

I frequent the well known, large casinos/hotels...their ceilings are extremely tall and are well ventilated. There are non-smoking areas in some of these casino/hotels. I have a tendency to stay away from the casinos that do not have accommodations.

It's been 3 years since I've been to Vegas and I'm sure some things have changed.

I suggest looking up casinos on the internet in the area where you want to go. Check them out to see if they have non-smoking areas for gambling.

 

[KB]

I went into a casino in Washington state 4 or 5 years ago. While it had a non smoking section, it still smelled like smoke in it.

 

[Westernskies]

I can't stand going to a casino. I'd rather have a root canal. Or two. When I walk into a casino, the stench of stale cigarette smoke makes me gag, the cacophony of flashing lights and inane electronic sounds are enough to make me catatonic, and watching the chainsmoking zombies perched at the slot machines or hunched over the blackjack tables depresses me. Casinos are funded by losers, not winners-glittering shrines built on shattered hopes, and all the crap that goes along with it. Everyone looks so hopeless-

But, maybe that's just me.

 

[ziggy29]

Vices tend to come in clusters. That's part of the reason why bars don't want to stop smoking. They seem to think smoking and drinking go together like peanut butter and jelly. I guess you can throw gambling in there as well. The most modern casinos are probably best in terms of ventilation systems; yes, there is smoke in the air but current ventilation systems are better about sucking much of the smoke several feet into the air and make the air *almost* breathable for non-smokers.

I've heard of a handful of non-smoking areas in casinos, and perhaps with a crummy economy we may see this attempted as a gimmick to bring in a clientele that often stays away from the smoke-filled casinos. I understand that Vegas has more low minimum ($2-3) blackjack tables than it did five years ago; when I was last there almost all of the "cheapskate" tables on the strip had a minimum of $5 if not $10.

I view casino gambling like any other type of travel/recreation/entertainment expense. I have a certain amount I allocate to my budget, which is what I'm willing to lose, and stop at that point if I reach it (and I rarely have because I'm too cheap; even when I tell myself I'm willing to lose $200 to gambling on a Vegas trip, I lose $50 and I start to get a nervous tic and quit).

Casinos are funded by losers, not winners-glittering shrines built on shattered hopes, and all the crap that goes along with it.

My peeve is the lottery. It's a regressive tax that isn't a true tax, and for all the "play responsibly" talk it clearly is marketed to people who can least afford to spend the money on losing lottery tickets. And the payout ratio at a competitive casino may be 90-95% as opposed to 50% in a typical lottery. It disgusts me. And that says nothing about going into a convenience store at a gas station and wanting to buy one thing and waiting a few minutes for people buying and redeeming lottery products....

 

[Nords]

Anyone else like to gamble but hate the cloudy atmosphere?

There are non-smoking areas in some of these casino/hotels. I have a tendency to stay away from the casinos that do not have accommodations.

I'd spend quite a bit more time at the blackjack tables if the environment didn't smell so eye-watering bad from the tobacco residue.

I think a non-smoking casino would be a hit. But a non-drinking casino... let's just say that I depend on my fellow blackjack players to stay heavily inebriated to justify the casino's tolerance of my basic strategy and occasional card-counting.

 

[ziggy29]

I think a non-smoking casino would be a hit. But a non-drinking casino... let's just say that I depend on my fellow blackjack players to stay heavily inebriated to justify the casino's tolerance of my basic strategy and occasional card-counting.

Plus, as opposed to the impact of smoking, it's not like my liver will get thrashed if the person next to me is drinking...

 

[Sue J]

I'm in Ohio where we passed a smoking ban a few years ago. No smoking in public places including workplaces. I LOVE IT!
Ohio Smoking Ban

Interestingly enough we just passed a casino issue that is going to allow casinos in a few specific places. My guess is that they will also be smoke free. Hmm, I wonder how that's going to affect their profitability.

Found an article, yes they will be smoke free -
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/05/rules_for_ohio_casinos_take_sh.html

 

[bbbamI]

Vice and sin can be expensive...

....thank heavens my budget accounts for such...

 

[Texas Proud]

I'd spend quite a bit more time at the blackjack tables if the environment didn't smell so eye-watering bad from the tobacco residue.

I think a non-smoking casino would be a hit. But a non-drinking casino... let's just say that I depend on my fellow blackjack players to stay heavily inebriated to justify the casino's tolerance of my basic strategy and occasional card-counting.

HMMMM... I was in Vegas last year for the national bowling tournament... and we went to a couple of gambling places downtown... one of the things that just struck me is that I was NOT offered a drink in any of them...

Many years ago when I was with my BIL who was a very frequent guest.... you got offered FREE drinks the minute you sat down... the thinking being the more you drank the more you gambled... I used to only drink soda, but I got it free also.... what is happening to casinos these days!!!

 

[Nords]

HMMMM... I was in Vegas last year for the national bowling tournament... and we went to a couple of gambling places downtown... one of the things that just struck me is that I was NOT offered a drink in any of them...

Maybe you needed to be sitting at the $25 table...

 

[dex]

I like the smoking area in the LV airport - it is a glass cube filled with people smoking up a cloud.

 

[W2R]

I guess I am going to be the oddball here (yes, once again - - I seem to make a career of it, oh well).

I actually LIKE going to casinos, at least briefly. I don't do much gambling in casinos. I like the flashing lights and excitement, and the people-watching is fantastic.

We don't smoke, but I have never noticed whether or not there is smoking going on in the casinos. Either it isn't allowed, or (more likely) the air conditioning system has some powerful air cleaners or something. There does seem to be a lot of alcohol flowing at casinos and the smell of so much alcohol can be a little much.

 

[REWahoo]

I guess I am going to be the oddball here (yes, once again - - I seem to make a career of it, oh well).

I actually LIKE going to casinos. I don't do much gambling in casinos. I like the flashing lights and the people-watching is fantastic.

We don't smoke, but I have never noticed whether or not there is smoking going on in the casinos. Either it isn't allowed, or (more likely) the air conditioning system has some powerful air cleaners or something. There does seem to be a lot of alcohol flowing at casinos.

Hard to believe you can put up with that shite yet fear the black tank in an RV.

 

[MuirWannabe]

Vices tend to come in clusters. That's part of the reason why bars don't want to stop smoking. They seem to think smoking and drinking go together like peanut butter and jelly. I guess you can throw gambling in there as well.

I agree vices must come in clusters. Guess I'm wierd and more carefully select my vices. Dont smoke. Barely drink. But enjoy gaming.

I've heard of a handful of non-smoking areas in casinos, and perhaps with a crummy economy we may see this attempted as a gimmick to bring in a clientele that often stays away from the smoke-filled casinos. I understand that Vegas has more low minimum ($2-3) blackjack tables than it did five years ago; when I was last there almost all of the "cheapskate" tables on the strip had a minimum of $5 if not $10.

You may be dating yourself a bit here. I think it's been many years since the likes of $2 or $3 blackjack tables. You can occasionaly find a $5 table but $10 tends to be the minimum. And the clientele at the minimum tables are especially giving with their smoke.

 

[W2R]

Hard to believe you can put up with that shite yet fear the black tank in an RV.

Odd, isn't it? I always wondered what went on in casinos when I was younger, but cannot recall ever being curious about the black tank.

 

[ziggy29]

You may be dating yourself a bit here. I think it's been many years since the likes of $2 or $3 blackjack tables. You can occasionaly find a $5 table but $10 tends to be the minimum. And the clientele at the minimum tables are especially giving with their smoke.

My wife was in Vegas a couple months ago and she said she definitely saw $2 and $3 tables that we didn't see the last time we were there something like 5-6 years ago. They aren't exactly common, but they are there (and can usually be identified from a distance by the fact that they are full).

Though I should also add that she went midweek. If you go over the weekend I'd not be surprised if all the minimums were $5-10.

 

[MuirWannabe]

My wife was in Vegas a couple months ago and she said she definitely saw $2 and $3 tables that we didn't see the last time we were there something like 5-6 years ago. They aren't exactly common, but they are there (and can usually be identified from a distance by the fact that they are full).

Though I should also add that she went midweek. If you go over the weekend I'd not be surprised if all the minimums were $5-10.

Well, thats certainly more recent than my info. I would love that. For me, the thrill would be there if I had just $1 riding on it. And that would certainly be better for my pocketbook.

BTW...isnt your DW in the ministry? Dare I ask if she gambled while there?

 

[M Paquette]

I like the smoking area in the LV airport - it is a glass cube filled with people smoking up a cloud.

Oh, man, when DW and I saw that, we thought we were seeing some sort of giant anti-smoking performance art piece. Then we realized those were real live people in that haze.

The Munich and Copenhagen airports have similar smoking chambers. The Vegas one has slots and neon to add to the bizarre appearance.

 

[ziggy29]

BTW...isnt your DW in the ministry? Dare I ask if she gambled while there?

Not yet and very little. She was mostly sightseeing, people watching and shopping; she went there mainly to celebrate with a good friend of hers who wanted to go there after completing chemo after battling breast cancer.

 

[clifp]

Most poker rooms in Vegas are smoke free and have been so for many years. A fair number are completely separate from the main casino are relatively quite and peaceful.

Even if you haven't played much poker but only watched it on TV, a $100 buy-in at a lower limit game $2-4, or $3-$6 should last a couple of hours, and of course you can make money. With the World Series of Poker going in in full swing do avoid the No Limit Texas hold-em table for the next month.

 

[Nords]

Oh, man, when DW and I saw that, we thought we were seeing some sort of giant anti-smoking performance art piece. Then we realized those were real live people in that haze.
The Munich and Copenhagen airports have similar smoking chambers. The Vegas one has slots and neon to add to the bizarre appearance.

I thought you were referring to a 1980s submarine control room...

 

[Coach]

MuirWannabe, come up to Colorado -- our casinos (in Cripple Creek, Central City and Black Hawk) are smoke free. They don't want to be, but they are.

Coach