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There has been a dirty rumor floating around for decades now that anyone can light-up pretty much anywhere in Las Vegas. However, this rumor is false. You can NOT smoke anywhere you want to in Las Vegas. In fact, smoking laws in Las Vegas are similar to those anywhere else in the U.S. The only places that allow smoking are establishments that serve more alcohol than food. For example, you are allowed to smoke in a casino because it is a private establishment and alcohol is served while food is not. However, in restaurants smoking is prohibited. In nightclubs, however, smoking is allowed.
How did this myth get started? Well, casinos are large. If you have ever been to Vegas, you can sometimes feel like the casino takes up most of the hotel. Sometimes it can feel as if it is impossible to find your way out of the casino. The reason that hotels do this is because they want you to play (and lose money), of course. However, just because you want to gamble, doesn’t mean you have to subject yourself to the health risks of second hand smoke. Lately, many casinos are creating designated non-smoking areas. Many poker rooms and even slot-areas are designated non-smoking for those who want to risk their money instead of their lungs.
There are several ways to avoid the smoke while in Las Vegas. The first is to gamble at the newer hotels. Luxury casinos like the Wynn, Palazzo, Venetian, and Bellagio have much better air ventilation than some of the older buildings downtown. Better ventilation means that the smoke will leave quickly and hopefully won’t be as bothersome.
There are also several places in town that offer smoke-free zones in the casino. The Bellagio has designated non-smoking tables as well as slot machines that change daily based on traffic. Harrah’s is one of the best places in town for non-smokers. There is a 1,000 square foot gaming section that is completely non-smoking. The non-smoking area at Harrah’s has slots, video poker, blackjack, and roulette. The MGM Grand also has a non-smoking section.
The Mirage actually has a special filtration system set up in their poker room that pumps out toxic air and pumps oxygen into the casino. This is actually one of the ways that another Las Vegas rumor got started. You may have heard the one about casinos pumping oxygen into gaming areas to keep people awake and alert so that they keep playing. Well the truth behind that rumor is that the oxygen is pumped in to relieve the smell of smoke and not to keep you alert. You would need a much higher dose of concentrated oxygen pumped directly into your lungs in order to feel any change in mood, so the oxygen in the casino is there for your benefit, not the casino’s. Also, realize that if you need a break from the smoke you can always head back to your room or even (this may sound a little crazy) but, outside in the fresh air! Every casino in Las Vegas has non-smoking rooms so make sure that you designate if you would like a non-smoking room when booking. Otherwise, the smoke problem in casinos really isn’t as bad as it used to be. The myth that smoke is impossible to hide from in Las Vegas is just that…a myth.
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