Press Release - March 16th, 2026

For Immediate Release:
March 16, 2026

Contact:
press@no-smoke.org

Berkeley, CA—As public health advocates, state officials, and the gaming industry mark Problem Gambling Awareness Month this March, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is urging states to pass smokefree casino legislation in order to address problem gambling and promote public health.

“The casino industry often states publicly that it prioritizes responsible gaming, putting out branded social media posts and hosting webinars about the importance of mitigating problem gambling,” said Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of ANR. “But the industry’s insistence on maintaining indoor smoking in casinos directly undermines those very principles by keeping players at the table longer, discouraging breaks, and exposing everyone to toxic air. Smokefree casinos are fundamental to reducing gambling addiction. When casinos allow patrons to smoke on gaming floors, they take away a natural stopping point for players to think critically and make responsible gaming decisions. If we were serious about public health and reducing problem gambling, we would end indoor smoking in casinos today.”

The connection between gambling and tobacco addiction is clear. Studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have shown that “41–60% of individuals who struggle with problem gambling also have a tobacco use disorder,” and “smoking may undermine the treatment of problem gambling given the strong associations between the two behaviors.” If public health officials or casinos want to address problem gambling, they must address smoking in casinos.

Comorbid smoking is not only linked to problem gambling but also has been proven to actually worsen it. In the same NIH study, researchers found that “individuals with problem gambling who smoke have more severe gambling disorder symptoms, report stronger gambling cravings … [and] spend more money and time on gambling activities."

The casino industry is aware of the impact that smoking has on problem gambling—but instead of taking steps to promote responsible gaming practices by eliminating smoking on gaming floors, industry leaders have instead further fueled gambling addiction. A 2022 report from Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming revealed that casino executives are aware of the link between smoking and problem gambling but will not enact smokefree policies because they are afraid of losing revenue if smokers were to take smoke breaks at their gaming facilities.

Taking breaks is a central tenet of combatting gambling addiction, and permitting smoking on gaming floors encourages addictive behavior by increasing the likelihood of prolonged gaming sessions without breaks. Casinos refuse to implement smokefree policies because they know that breaks allow patrons the time and space to make responsible decisions—sometimes leading to them choosing to leave the casino entirely.

Contrary to the casino industry’s misguided and irresponsible refusal to implement potentially life-saving policies, other industry leaders such as the National Council on Problem Gambling have expressed support for ending indoor smoking in casinos in order to “reduce the incidence of problem gambling and improve public health.” In honor of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, states across the country that still allow indoor smoking in casinos—including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Virginia — should heed public health guidance and close their casino smoking loopholes.

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Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for over 50 years 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 nonsmokersrights.org and https://smokefreecasinos.org.

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