Casinos embrace smoke-free policies as smoker numbers plummet

The days of smoky casino floors may be over. As smoking rates hit record lows, even high-stakes venues are rethinking their policies—without fearing financial fallout.

, and Administrator

2025 November 22 . 8:01 PM

1 min read

This image is taken indoors. In the background there is a wall and there are two lights. A few... — This image is taken indoors. In the background there is a wall and there are two lights. A few people are sitting on the chairs and there is a table with a few things on it. In the middle of the image there is a table with a bottle, a menu card and an ashtray on it. Two men and a woman are sitting on the chairs and they are smoking. They are holding cigarettes in their hands.

Casinos embrace smoke-free policies as smoker numbers plummet

Smoking in casinos is becoming less of an issue as fewer people light up. In 2022, only 11.6% of adults smoked, and the numbers keep dropping. Now, even casino visitors seem content with bans on smoking indoors, according to a recent industry discussion.

Two casino finance analysts, John Smith and Lisa Johnson, recently argued that gaming floors can go smoke-free without hurting business. Their comments came during a webinar hosted by Spectrum, Management Science Associates, and Spectrumetrix. Smith warned that bans might initially reduce visitor numbers, but Johnson noted that revenues tend to stabilise over time.

With fewer smokers and growing acceptance of bans, casinos face less resistance to going smoke-free. The experience of venues like Mohegan Sun shows that policy changes can work without major financial losses. As smoking rates drop further, the industry may see even more venues adopting stricter rules.