New Las Vegas Casinos Winning Battle Against Secondhand Smoke

^{Even older Las Vegas casinos like the Westgate are trying to cut back on secondhand smoke in their gaming areas with non-smoking sections. (Photo: Jeffrey Isaac Greenberg / Alamy)}

LAS VEGAS – Smoking in casinos has been a hot-button issue in casinos in Las Vegas and across the country for years. Guests at bars in major cities like New York and Los Angeles haven't been able to smoke indoors for more than 20 years. While many businesses around the country prohibit smoking, Las Vegas casinos remain a major exception. 

Some casinos have tried non-smoking sections, but they are often removed due to a lack of demand. The Gold Coast, one of the smokier casinos in Las Vegas, recently eliminated its non-smoking section.

The issue is compounded by the fact that many older casinos have not upgraded ventilation systems to improve air quality for guests and employees. While there have been technological advancements in air filtration, the extent to which the differences are noticeable depends on when the building was constructed and what technology was installed. 

The most effective casino ventilation systems are typically found in properties built within the last 20 years. It is easier to integrate modern air systems during construction than to update older buildings while keeping them open. 

For some visitors, that may mean choosing a newer property instead of an older favorite. The simplest way to avoid smoke in Las Vegas casinos is to visit Park MGM, the only fully smoke-free casino on the Strip.

That said, several other casinos are making efforts to reduce the impact of smoke on guests by upgrading their systems or adopting newer technology, which are discussed in more detail below.

Displacement Ventilation

Displacement ventilation delivers air at low speed from the floor instead of pushing it down from the ceiling. This helps lift cigarette smoke upward and away from guests instead of pushing it back down to their faces.

Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas has one of the most advanced systems that uses this approach. Unlike most Las Vegas casinos, Circa’s 1,000 air vents are located in the floor instead of overhead. It cools more efficiently because air is delivered closer to guests, and its state-of-the-art air filtration system moves air differently from most casinos.

The cooling effect is especially valuable during the summer months, but the air circulation helps year-round for guests who prefer a less smoky environment. It is also beneficial for employees working on the casino floor.

According to Circa, casino air is fully refreshed every 2.3 to 3.5 minutes, depending on location. It is a continuous exchange with fresh air from outside rather than recirculated air from inside. The Circa sportsbook air is refreshed every 2.3 minutes. The main casino floor, including table games, slot machines, and the Mega Bar, sees a full air refresh every 2.9 minutes. On the second floor, where Slotapalooza will be held, participants will experience fresh air every 3.5 minutes.

The cooling effect is especially valuable during the summer months, but the air circulation helps year-round for guests who prefer a less smoky environment. It is also beneficial for employees working on the casino floor.

The only other Las Vegas casino widely known for a similar displacement ventilation approach is Aria Resort & Casino, which also has one of the most memorable scents in town. 

Air Curtains

Casino air curtains almost sound mythological, but they function as invisible barriers of moving air. They operate by using an invisible stream of moving air to create a physical barrier between smoking and non-smoking environments. 

MGM Resorts originally pioneered this technology at Aria Resort & Casino when it opened in 2009 to improve comfort for table game dealers. But they also benefit table game players by pushing smoke upward toward ceiling vents, complementing broader ventilation systems. These systems can also be installed at doorways to reduce the flow of smoky air between spaces.

Even though air moves upward, air curtains help limit lateral smoke movement across tables. The result is reduced odor and improved comfort, including fewer irritants such as dry eyes.

Aria remains the only Las Vegas casino known to use air curtains directly at table games, but Binion’s Gambling Hall, Four Queens Hotel and Casino, and Resorts World Las Vegas also use them in different ways.

Binion’s and Four Queens use them at entrance points to help regulate airflow, while Resorts World uses them to contain smoke within high-limit areas to avoid it from spreading throughout the property.

Gaseous Oxidation

Gaseous oxidation sounds like an ailment, but it’s a modern update to technology most casino guests have probably experienced before. It is a modern air treatment process that uses chemical reactions to break down smoke particles, odors, and airborne impurities. Instead of masking smoke and odors like older systems do, this process breaks them down at the molecular level, creating cleaner air throughout the property, not just in localized areas.

The end result keeps the air fresher and cleaner for all guests, not just table game players. It is found in several Las Vegas casinos, including MGM Grand, Treasure Island, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, and multiple Station Casinos properties.