- Half the gaming floor will be designated for smoking.
- The nonsmoking section will include slots and table games.
- Around 80% of the facilities will offer non-smoking areas.
The Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened to great fanfare last week, providing players with a first look at the casino.
Visitors were impressed with the gaming selection and dining options, but not so much by the smoking element. The casino allowed smoking throughout the gaming floor upon opening with ashtrays all around.
The public complained and now Rivers has decided to lessen the areas of smoking in the hopes of appeasing its guests.
Changing its Smoking Policy
On Monday, the Rivers Casino Portsmouth announced that its smoking policy was changing due to comments from opening week. The casino will split the gaming floor into two halves. One section will offer smoking while the other will not. The nonsmoking side will include table games and slots. After the change, 80% of the casino will be considered nonsmoking. The action is not allowed in restaurants, poker room, the event center, or Topgolf.
The casino allows cigarette smoking only. Visitors are not allowed to vape or smoke cigars. According to casino officials, the guests and local community were critical of the amount of smoking allowed within the property.
More casinos than ever before are going smokeless including Rivers Casino Philadelphia to protect employee and casino visitor health. Smoking is no longer allowed in most public places, and casinos seem to be the last holdout. Players were not expecting the gaming floor to be a full smoking space inside the casino when visiting.
Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Speaks Out
A nonprofit working to prevent secondhand smoke issues, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights says the effort does not have a positive effect. The group called the casino’s decision weak and said it was like offering a ‘peeing section in a pool’. It still affects those in the same area.
CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, Cynthia Hallett, stated that the only solution for the problem is to get rid of indoor smoking. Move the activity outside and it provides a breathable space for all patrons as well as a healthier environment.
If smoking is allowed to continue inside the casino it will continue to be dangerous for guests and casino workers. These individuals will be exposed to secondhand smoke which has negative effects to the overall health of those exposed.
The CEO pointed out that Rivers has to power to make the decision to avoid offering smoking and make the facility attractive to guests who want to enjoy the services of the gaming venue.
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