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Smoke-Free Casinos in Las Vegas – A (Slowly) Growing List


Key Points:

  • The only completely smoke-free resort in Vegas is Park MGM, located on the south end of the Strip.

  • On Fremont Street, Plaza offers a small, physically divided smoke-free casino with 80 slot games.

  • Although they allow smoking, newer casinos like Aria, Circa, and Fontainebleau all have effective ventilation that reduces smoke.

The Nevada Clean Air Act outlaws smoking indoors with the exception of tobacco stores, strip clubs, private residences, some stand-alone bars, and of course, casinos. While indoor smoking is illegal across much of the country, gamblers are still able to light up in Las Vegas casinos to the dismay of non-smokers around them.

Casinos defend the policy of allowing smoking because they think it helps their business. Per a University of Connecticut study, smoking is proven to increase gambling, even causing people to “crave” the activity.

While smoking amongst gamblers is common, the majority of visitors to Las Vegas are non-smokers, many of whom prefer not to be exposed to smoke as they play.

With that in mind, I wanted to put together a guide outlining smoke-free casinos in Las Vegas and casinos I frequently visit that are “less smokey”.

I’m hopeful that over time, the list of smoke-free Las Vegas casinos continues to lengthen.

See Also: 40+ ways to save money in Vegas.

Smoke-Free Casinos in Vegas

Park MGM

Formerly known as Monte Carlo, Park MGM became Las Vegas’ first completely smoke-free casino in 2020.

Smoking is prohibited in all corners of the resort including guestrooms, dining establishments, and the gaming floor. Currently, Park MGM is the only smoke-free casino on the Strip, and in Las Vegas as a whole.

I’m hopeful that others will follow Park’s lead if the experiment proves to be a success.

You can view current hotel offers and promotions specific to Park MGM here.

Park MGM Las Vegas Exterior
Photo Courtesy of MGM Resorts

Plaza

An exciting development, Plaza has expanded its casino floor, creating a completely smoke-free section – The first of its kind on Fremont Street. The casino expansion weighs in at 2,500 square feet and is home to 80 slot machines.

Importantly, the smoke-free section of the casino is physically divided from the section where smoking will still be allowed. No smoke drift here!

The new smoke-free casino area carries the “Brian Christopher Slots” name. For those unfamiliar, Brian Christopher is a popular YouTuber and slot machine enthusiast that has also vocally pushed for casinos to ban smoking indoors.

Smoking inside Plaza will still be allowed outside of the designated non-smoking casino area.

Plaza Las Vegas exterior llluminated at dusk
Oscar’s at Plaza – ©kitleong/123RF.COM

Harry Reid International Airport: While not a casino per se, the airport offers a wide assortment of slot games spread across the airport in a smoke-free environment.

If smokeless gambling is important to you, carve out some time at the beginning or end of your trip to peck the slots prior to, or after your flight.

Let it be known that slots at the airport are thought to be tighter than those found in traditional casinos around Las Vegas. Gambling at the airport is a lame option, but smoke-free gaming is smoke-free gaming.

Hertz Rental Car Counter at the Airport
©tupungato/123RF.COM

More Las Vegas Strip Casinos Offering a Non-Smoking Section

I get it. Offering a non-smoking section in a Las Vegas casino is akin to offering a peeing section in a swimming pool. All the water, or air, in this case, gets mixed together anyway making it relatively ineffective.

If avoiding smoke is your goal, however, a non-smoking section is typically the best you can do. Las Vegas casinos now offering a non-smoking section on their casino floor include Mirage, Planet Hollywood, and MGM Grand among others.

Unfortunately, non-smokers seeking refuge in a non-smoking section are commonly unable to find the exact games they want to play.

Instead of parking in a non-smoking section, I recommend visiting Park MGM which doesn’t allow smoking, or simply navigating around smokers within the casino instead of seeking refuge in an ineffective and option-limiting non-smoking section.

They just don’t work.

“Less Smokey” Casino Options in Las Vegas

Seek Better Ventilation

Although smoking is allowed in the vast majority of Las Vegas casinos, you can find some “less smokey” options.

To find them, I typically look to newer structures like Circa on Fremont Street. Circa has a state-of-the-art HVAC system that pushes air up from vents scattered about the casino floor towards intakes on the ceiling.

Newer casinos on the Strip with better ventilation and a “less smokey” environment include Wynn/Encore, Venetian/Palazzo, Bellagio, and Caesars Palace.

In fact, a recent air quality study by Wynd confirmed that indoor air quality was best at Aria, Park MGM, and Wynn in that order. If you desire a less smokey environment, those are your best bets. Unfortunately, the study kept casinos with the worst air quality a secret.

Aria's pool with the hotel tower in the background
Inside, you’ll find the best air quality in Vegas – © Al Powers, PowersImagery.com – Courtesy of MGM Resorts

Avoid the Crowds

Less crowded casinos are also usually “less smokey” as a result.

Fontainebleau, a brand-new resort on the north end of the Strip is commonly deserted.

The same applies to Downtown Grand just steps from Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas.

Exterior of Fontainebleau Las Vegas with a car standing vertically on it's front bumper as a decoration.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Hopefully, I was able to help you find an acceptable casino in Las Vegas that has either banned smoking or will provide a less smokey experience.

Ultimately, unless you opt to visit Park MGM suffering through a degree of smoke while you play is a reality.

Eventually, smoking will be banned indoors at Las Vegas casinos, but until that day you’ll need to remain flexible and creative.

Related: Where to find the loosest slots in Vegas. I leverage data from the Nevada Gaming Commission to guide you in the right direction!

Feature Image: ©kenishirotie/123RF.COM

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Anna L.

Friday 14th of April 2023

Park mgm is lovely. Big plus. Non smoking. Great food. Great rooms. Healthy environment and super fun.

Wednesday 15th of February 2023

I'll stop going to Vegas casinos if they ban smoking altogether, I'm not even a heavy smoker & only light up if no one is playing near me or someone else is smoking...It seems to me the trend is to ban smoking or have smoking areas, we'll see

AlexM

Wednesday 4th of January 2023

The problem with allowing smoking is that viruses such as Covid and/or the flu can piggy back on smoke particles. If you can smell the smoke, you can breathe in a virus. Why was it then that smoking was banned in all casinos during the Covid outbreak? It’s because they knew the virus could be carried by the smoke particles. It remains true today, but they are willing to risk it by catering to the whales.

Saturday 10th of June 2023

@AlexM, True!!!

Sunday 16th of October 2022

Smoking has been banned in Poker Rooms for a long time. 15 years or more ?

Sarah

Thursday 15th of September 2022

I don’t even smoke anymore, been vaping for 10 years. I can fairly easily stealth vape, but I don’t like having to be sneaky to enjoy myself (which when I was a smoker, DEFINITELY included lots of cigarettes while gambling). I am not a fan of the “smoke free” movement.

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