Anti-smoking advocacy groups are urging shareholders of four gambling giants to demand that they conduct economic studies on the impact of making their properties smoke-free. Casino gaming floors are one of the few public spaces where smoking remains legal in many states, despite increasing pressure on multiple fronts to change that.
Casino owners are often resistant to the idea, believing that smoking bans will hurt their bottom lines. The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) and Trinity Health are pressing shareholders of Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Penn Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts to vote in favor of proposals that would compel closer examination of that idea.
The groups argue that indoor smoking carries both health and business risks, and that the economic impact of anti-smoking policies might be overstated. They emphasize that 88.5% of US adults do not smoke. According to them, shareholder-backed studies could provide essential data on how banning indoor smoking might affect revenue, guest satisfaction, employee morale, and long-term profitability. Meanwhile, some studies suggest that abstaining from smoking during play may help with problem gambling recovery.
Advocate groups look to build momentum
ANRF and Trinity Health will be closely watching as votes will take place from April 30 to June. This year marks the second time the two groups have filed shareholder resolutions against indoor smoking. Last year’s effort garnered nearly 60 million shareholder votes across Bally’s Corporation, Boyd Gaming, and Caesars Entertainment, though not enough to mandate corporate action.
This year, Wynn Resorts, Boyd Gaming, and Caesars Entertainment tried to omit the proposal from their annual shareholder meetings. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled that they must proceed to vote.
Rather than pushing for banning smoking, ANRF and Trinity Health call to study the business risks. In a press release, Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of ANRF, highlighted the increasing demand from investors for greater transparency on this issue. Hallett added that the advocacy group will engage with more companies. ANRF and Trinity Health are also discussing similar evaluations with operators such as MGM Resorts and Churchill Downs.
Division among labor unions on the issue
While many organizations and labor unions support banning smoking in casinos, others fear that it will result in lower revenue, translating into job losses.
New Jersey has become a focal point of this debate. Last year, United Auto Workers, representing table game dealers in some Atlantic City casinos, and Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects (CEASE) filed a lawsuit against Gov. Philip Murphy and the NJ Department of Health to force an overturn of a legal loophole that allows smoking on casino floors.
Meanwhile, UNITE Here Local 54, representing about 10,000 casino employees in Atlantic City, and the NJ attorney general asked a state Superior Court judge to throw out the lawsuit. According to Local 54, up to a third of its members are at risk of losing their jobs if smoking is banned in New Jersey casinos.
Where are casinos smoke-free?
While smoking is permitted in casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, many states require casinos to be smoke-free. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine out of 22 states, along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, mandate smoke-free commercial casinos. They include:
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Ohio
- Puerto Rico
- South Dakota
- US Virgin Islands
- Washington
Additionally, some states also require other gambling venues, such as racinos and bingo halls, to be smoke-free. They include:
- Delaware and Florida (for racinos)
- Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Rhode Island (for bingo halls)
Tribal casinos are not included in the lists as they do not have to follow state and federal laws.
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