Casinos and smoking

[TromboneAl]

How do they get around the liability issue? Secondhand smokes kills, it's pretty well-accepted now, so isn't this a lawsuit waiting to happen?

A while back, the local Indian casino had a free breakfast deal. As bad as the smoke pollution was the sound pollution. Several different sources of music, a CNN broadcast, and multiple bells and whistles. No relaxing.

 

[aaronc879]

The state of Wisconsin goes smoke-free in all public buildings July 5th. Unfortunetly Native American owned casinos are exempt and will remain non-smoke free and I will continue to avoid them because of that. There is one small casino that has an even smaller smoke free area. Once or twice a year I may go to that casino.
People are affected by second hand smoke in different ways. If I go to the main casino around here it seems like nearly everyone is smoking and I immediately start gagging. I can't stand the slightest wiff of second hand smoke.

 

[M Paquette]

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

Yeah... About that... We need someone to wash down the fan room...

 

[easysurfer]

I'm a highroller -- NOT!

The nickel slots are my game

I did go to an Indian casino one time (not to gamble, but to see a concert). I had my camera with me and as I was about to go in, the security guard with a rifle on the watchtower warned me that cameras aren't allowed in the casino.

I politely explained to him that I won't take any photos of the gaming, just the concert. He did let me in. I guess I have an honest face.

 

[ziggy29]

The state of Wisconsin goes smoke-free in all public buildings July 5th. Unfortunetly Native American owned casinos are exempt and will remain non-smoke free and I will continue to avoid them because of that.

I think that's unfortunate from the standpoint of someone who wants to breathe clean air, but I think the law is pretty clear that state law can not generally trump sovereignty rights of Indian tribes as negotiated with the federal government.

 

[Meadbh]

AFAIK all casinos in Canada, except those on native reserves, are smokefree these days (workplace clean air legislation, etc). Prior to this, I would never spend time in a casino. Apart from hating smoky environments, I'm too logical to enjoy mindlessly putting money into slots which are mathematically engineered to make me lose. But recently I did spend approximately an hour in a casino playing poker while on vacation. With poker, at least there's some strategy involved. I spent $60 in total, losing, then winning, then losing again. It was an entertaining hour, but I would have had more enjoyment from playing for fun with a group of friends.

 

[Nords]

Yeah... About that... We need someone to wash down the fan room...

"Crap, I inspected the fan room last week and I'm still getting over that trauma. How 'bout this week I trade you the fan room in exchange for the torpedo room bilge. Oh, OK, OK, I'll throw in the machinery room bilge too. Well, how 'bout if I agree to do your next sanitary tank closeout inspection too?"

Don't miss those days a bit.

 

[BigNick]

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

Here's a way to profit from other people's vices. According to the performance data it has outperformed the S&P500 by 189 basis points per year over 7½ years.

 

[Walt34]

Even though we live within 30 minutes of Charles Town Races & Slots we've never been in the place. I keep meaning to just to see what it's like, and maybe see what the attraction is, but since I know "The House Never Loses" I've never been tempted to make what I think is a bad bet going in.

There must be some attraction since people come from several states away.

 

[MuirWannabe]

How do they get around the liability issue? Secondhand smokes kills, it's pretty well-accepted now, so isn't this a lawsuit waiting to happen?

A while back, the local Indian casino had a free breakfast deal. As bad as the smoke pollution was the sound pollution. Several different sources of music, a CNN broadcast, and multiple bells and whistles. No relaxing.

Great point. Not sure how they get around the liability issue. Maybe some special state law exemptions for non Indian casinos. Second hand smoke is not something I normally worry much about. But after a day in a casino it definetly crosses my mind. Your breathing in gallons of that stuff.

From other responses it looks like smoke free casinos exist in Canada, Ohio, Colorado, and Wisconsin. Not really very close to me. And not places I would have normally thought about for casino activity. But something to consider. It's good to know they exist and can survive without smoker patronage. I do wish Vegas would consider this.

I did look at the Vice Fund Nick. It's kind of funny such a fund exists. And I bet (pun intended) it does do rather well. You've got me thinking about it.

 

[JPatrick]

Checked out the casino at Niagara Falls a few weeks ago, and despite a very light crowd the smoke was stifling. The non-smoking area was only slightly less stifling. Call it stifling light.
I was shocked to note that they still had a few penny slots. I figured if I hit a hot streak I could maybe make 50 cents before I passed out..
That said, Boyd (BYD) has been one of my best short term and/or option vehicles for the past several years. Smokin!!

 

[ronin]

I don't gamble often, but I like playing craps. Can't stand the smoke personally, so that limits my exposure to gambling in general.

I remember at least one Vegas casino that had the non-smoking area (a few slots) tucked away in a far corner, in which you had to cross through the smoke cloud to arrive. Every time the door opened a fresh blast of Unlucky Strikes made it in. Maybe it's better now, I don't know.

We have a lot of the Indian casinos around and they are all excluded from CA no-smoking laws, at least the once or twice I went in many years ago. Lots and lots of seniors bused in from the senior centers, couldn't find an open machine. Kind of creepy actually.

 

[73ss454]

I don't know the % of adults smokers but let's say it's about 25%. Wouldn't a business rather cater to the 75% that don't smoke?

While living in NY we had a local restaurant and bar which did a brisk business. The owner was a non smoker yet he was the president of a group of restaurant owners that fought the County on a no smoking bill which prevented smoking in bars and restaurants. The fight went on for a long while and finally the bar and restaurant owners lost the battle and smokers were forced outside. I can remember talking with him one day and he was furious about the ruling. Within a year after the smoking ban his business was up almost 20%. DW and I were able to go and enjoy some of the great food that was served there without coming out smelling like an ashtray.

I just don't get it!

 

[Tom57]

Northern Nevada Casino Smoking Update

The Reno casinos all smell badly because of smokers. Despite some areas of some casinos (both slots and table games) being posted as smoke free areas, the smell permeates the entire casino.

South Lake Tahoe recently had one casino that was totally smoke free- Bill’s, which had been a low roller casino. It went totally smoke free and slot machine only for a while and is now completely closed down.
Draw your own conclusions.

 

[oneils]

AFAIK all casinos in Canada, except those on native reserves, are smokefree these days (workplace clean air legislation, etc). Prior to this, I would never spend time in a casino. Apart from hating smoky environments, I'm too logical to enjoy mindlessly putting money into slots which are mathematically engineered to make me lose. But recently I did spend approximately an hour in a casino playing poker while on vacation. With poker, at least there's some strategy involved. I spent $60 in total, losing, then winning, then losing again. It was an entertaining hour, but I would have had more enjoyment from playing for fun with a group of friends.

I think the casinos in Quebec might still have a smoking section that is segregated from the non-smoking section. At least they did maybe 5 years ago. Haven't been in a casino since then so I can't verify it now.

I'm so glad Ottawa decided to ban smoking in bars and restaurants about 11 years ago. Everyone cried about how it would kill the bar and restaurant industry here. It hardly made a blip, I think the clientele just changed (at least in the urban core of the city).

edit - oh, here we go: "On May 31, 2006, Québec's casinos became non-smoking establishments. They now provide guests with a completely smoke-free environment, including in all gaming areas, bars, restaurants, performance halls and reception halls. However, for the benefit of our smoking customers, readily accessible smoking areas have been set up outside." I was curious, and google answered all.

 

[Tesaje]

I have little interest in casinos. Places thick with smokers tend to chase away non-smokers so they have a disporporant number of smokers. Various places have forced bars to ban smoking and the bars protested loudly that they would go out of business. Invariably, they gained business because all those non-smokers started to come in when they avoided bars because of the smoke. The smokers continued to come too and just went outside to smoke like they have to everywhere else.

 

[oneils]

I have little interest in casinos. Places thick with smokers tend to chase away non-smokers so they have a disporporant number of smokers. Various places have forced bars to ban smoking and the bars protested loudly that they would go out of business. Invariably, they gained business because all those non-smokers started to come in when they avoided bars because of the smoke. The smokers continued to come too and just went outside to smoke like they have to everywhere else.

I agree Tesaje. I think some business owners may be justs short sighted and don't understand how to take the long view. The uncertainty is too frightening.

Interestingly enough, I have an uncle who worked in bars during the 70s and 80s and he is convinced that the drinking and driving laws have ruined the bar and restaurant industry.

Pretty funny stuff. It seems to me that even in the middle of a recession, smoking bans, and strict drinking and driving laws, the industry keeps chugging along.

 

[caninelover]

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.

No, its not just you. +1, here. I can't stand Vegas for this exact reason. My megacorp is actually banning smoking anywhere on our property starting this fall - even outdoors. Woo hoo!!!

And to the people who say the "modern" casinos are better - no, I've been to the newer ones, they stink almost as bad. If you're from a state that has banned smoking indoors, you notice the difference immediately. I am more of an outdoors person so even if they had non-smoking casinos I wouldnt' be interested anyway.