LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Advocates for no-smoking insurance policies in casinos are watching as shareholder votes strategy for Wynn Resorts, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Leisure and Penn Leisure.
A Monday information launch from the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Basis (ANRF) mentioned votes are anticipated starting April 30 and persevering with into Could and June. ANRF and Trinity Well being have filed shareholder resolutions calling on on line casino firms to review the financial advantages to implementing smokefree insurance policies.
At the moment, Park MGM is the one smoke-free on line casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The coverage extends to the whole resort. It is owned by MGM Resorts Worldwide, which is not one of many firms the place votes are anticipated. “ANRF and Trinity Health are engaging in ongoing discussions with other major casino companies, including Churchill Downs, MGM Resorts International, and Bally’s Corporation, to encourage the companies to explore the financial and operational risks of maintaining their current smoking policies,” in keeping with the information launch.
Park MGM went smoke-free through the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued the apply. Some casinos supply smoke-free areas, however consultants say that is ineffective in stopping the results of secondhand smoke. Even the very best air flow programs solely scale back odor with out eliminating publicity.
A 2024 examine posted on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being web site discovered that airborne particulates related to secondhand smoke (SHS) have been about 5½ instances greater in casinos that permit smoking than they have been on the smoke-free on line casino.
“Despite robust evidence about the harms of SHS, tens of thousands of casino employees and tens of millions of tourists are exposed to high levels of SHS in Las Vegas casinos annually, with PM2.5 levels 5.4 times higher in gaming areas when compared with a smoke-free casino. The only way to protect people from SHS exposure is to prohibit smoking in all indoor areas,” the examine mentioned.
Unions have made it a giant difficulty in East Coast casinos, submitting a lawsuit final yr.
The anticipated votes aren’t any assure that smoking insurance policies in casinos will change anytime quickly in Las Vegas.
Boyd Gaming tried to dismiss the proposal, however the Securities and Change Fee allowed it to maneuver ahead.
Advocates cite a report by Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming that indicated no-smoking insurance policies did not trigger dramatic drops in gaming income. That examine targeted on East Coast casinos.
“These proposals are about due diligence. Companies study all kinds of operational risks — indoor smoking should be no different,” Cathy Rowan, Director of Socially Accountable Investments at Trinity Well being, mentioned. “By evaluating the financial impact of smokefree policies, casino operators can make informed decisions that reflect long-term shareholder value. We’re not telling them what the outcome should be — we’re saying it’s time to look at the numbers.”
The ANRF information launch cited votes a yr in the past that confirmed assist from shareholders at Bally’s Company, Boyd Gaming and Caesars Leisure.
“Last year’s success demonstrated that investors are increasingly interested in understanding the financial and business implications of smokefree policies. We are encouraged by the strong support we’ve received from shareholders and look forward to engaging with more companies this year. The continued investor interest signals a growing recognition that casinos should, at the very least, study the costs of indoor smoking on employee morale, guest satisfaction, and overall profitability,” Cynthia Hallett, ANRF president and CEO, mentioned.
Caesars Leisure and Boyd Gaming function many casinos throughout the nation along with their well-known resorts in Las Vegas. Penn’s solely on line casino within the Las Vegas valley is the M Resort Spa On line casino, however they’ve greater than 40 resorts throughout the nation.
Wynn primarily operates in Las Vegas and in Macau. Encore Boston Harbor is the corporate’s solely different resort within the U.S.
