By
Jane Shaw
Senior Editor Updated: 07/02/2022
We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.
Smoking Ban Will Not Impact Casinos
There has been a lot of controversy and debate over whether or not smoking should be allowed at casinos across the United States, particularly since the bans that were brought in during the global pandemic.
Those in support of smoking bans said that it would make casinos safer for all patrons while those against banning smoking expressed concerns that these bans could negatively impact footfall and casino revenue.
However, a Las Vegas casino consultancy claims that banning smoking would have little or no negative impact on casino revenue. The report comes from C3 Gaming, which is a firm that carries out market research for the casino industry. According to C3, this latest study was carried out independently without any funding or ties to a particular group or company.
Officials from C3 said that the research was aimed at determining whether banning smoking could result in a loss of interest from gamblers, thus leading to a drop in revenue. However, they claim that the results of the study show that this is not the case. In a statement, the company wrote:
Data from multiple jurisdictions clearly indicates that banning smoking no longer causes a dramatic drop in gaming revenue. In fact, non-smoking properties appear to be performing better than their counterparts that continue to allow smoking.
Many from the casino industry have claimed that a smoking ban would drive many people from casinos, as many would not come to gamble if they were not able to light up while there. However, the results of this study seem to indicate that the opposite could, in fact, be true, indicating that many gamblers would prefer a clean-air environment.
As part of the study, researchers looked at the performance of commercial casinos that were made to temporarily ban smoking during the pandemic compared to those that did not have to impose a ban. The results showed that those that had banned smoking did not suffer significant revenue drops, and they did not lose out to nearby casinos that still allowed smoking.
Prior to the global pandemic, smoking and gambling at casinos were activities that went hand in hand. However, the pandemic has changed not only the rules in many casinos but also the way that many gamblers think.
While some would still like to smoke while gambling, many others appear to have become accustomed to smoke-free environments, and it seems that some may even prefer being in a clean-air setting while gambling.
In addition, casinos that ban smoking have the added bonus of attracting more non-smokers. A lot of people who like to gamble but do not smoke are reluctant to spend a lot of time in settings where people are smoking all around them.
Many, therefore, decide to choose casinos where they don’t get exposed to second-hand smoke and can enjoy gambling without the worry of people smoking around them.
Officials from C3 said that the global pandemic has had a ‘profound effect’ on the attitudes and behaviors of consumers.
Jane ShawMay 18, 2024Read More
Jane ShawMay 15, 2024Read More
Jane ShawMay 13, 2024Read More
Jane ShawMay 11, 2024Read More