Press Release - August 16, 2022

Contact: press@no-smoke.org

Berkeley, CA – Following the announcement by the National Indian Gaming Commission that Tribal casinos generated a record-setting $39 billion in 2021 – all while more than 160 Tribal casinos operated smokefree indoors – Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, released the following statement: 

“At the same time that a record number of Tribal casinos chose to ditch indoor smoking in 2021, Tribal casinos collectively brought in more revenue than ever before. That’s not a coincidence, but a reflection of the new normal. These figures align with the recent, independent study by C3 Gaming showing smokefree casinos performing better than casinos with indoor smoking. We applaud the record number of Tribal casinos that have decided to protect their employees from dangerous secondhand smoke and provide a better experience for all guests. In states with commercial casinos, such as New Jersey, we urge legislators to reject industry scare tactics and pass bipartisan legislation that closes smoking loopholes and finally protects workers’ health.”

Background
More and more casinos nationwide are going smokefree, including Park MGM on the Las Vegas strip. In February, Navajo Nation’s new smokefree casino law took effect. At least 150 sovereign Tribal gaming venues have implemented 100% smokefree policies during COVID-19, nearly half of all states require commercial casinos to be smokefree indoors, and nearly 1,100 gaming properties do not permit smoking indoors.

ABOUT AMERICANS FOR NONSMOKERS' RIGHTS 
Americans for Nonsmoker’s Rights (ANR) is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for 45 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos. ANR has continuously shined a light on the tobacco industry’s interference with sound and life-saving public health measures and successfully protected 61% of the population with local or statewide smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar laws. ANR aims to close gaps in smokefree protections for workers in all workplaces, including bars, music venues, casinos, and hotels. For more information, please visit https://no-smoke.org/ and https://smokefreecasinos.org/.

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