Shareholders to Consider Smoke-Free Study Resolutions at Major Casinos

U.S. casino operators may prove pivotal in the national discussion around smoking policies in casinos. Shareholders of Wynn Resorts, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, and Penn Entertainment are set to vote on whether these companies should conduct formal assessments of the financial impact of going smoke-free.

The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) and Trinity Health tly submitted shareholder resolutions that call for an internal evaluation of smokefree policies. According to a news release issued Monday by ANRF, voting is scheduled to begin April 30 and will continue through May and June.

Casino Industry Faces Pressure on Smoking Policies

Currently, the only Las Vegas Strip casino that prohibits smoking indoors is Park MGM, owned by MGM Resorts International. While MGM is not subject to this round of shareholder votes, ANRF stated that “ANRF and Trinity Health are engaging in ongoing discussions with other major casino companies, including Churchill Downs, MGM Resorts International, and Bally’s Corporation, to encourage the companies to explore the financial and operational risks of maintaining their current smoking policies.”

Park MGM adopted its smoke-free environment during the COVID-19 pandemic and has maintained it ever since. Although some casinos provide designated nonsmoking sections, health advocates maintain that such measures are insufficient. According to experts, even the most advanced air filtration systems only reduce the presence of secondhand smoke odors and do not eliminate harmful exposure.

Recent findings posted by the National Institutes of Health these concerns. A 2024 study noted that “airborne particulates associated with secondhand smoke (SHS) were about 5½ times higher in casinos that allow smoking than they were at the smoke-free casino.” The research further emphasized, “Despite robust evidence about the harms of SHS, tens of thousands of casino employees and tens of millions of tourists are exposed to high levels of SHS in Las Vegas casinos annually, with PM2.5 levels 5.4 times higher in gaming areas when compared with a smoke-free casino. The only way to protect people from SHS exposure is to prohibit smoking in all indoor areas.”

While several East Coast casino worker unions have taken legal action over smoking issues, including a lawsuit filed last year, Las Vegas casinos have yet to follow suit with policy shifts.

Shareholder Grew Last Year

Although these resolutions don’t mandate any changes to existing policies, they aim to prompt formal review and analysis. Boyd Gaming attempted to block the proposal from moving forward but was overruled by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ers of the initiative have pointed to a report by Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming, which examined East Coast casinos and found that eliminating smoking did not lead to major losses in gaming revenue.

“These proposals are about due diligence. Companies study all kinds of operational risks — indoor smoking should be no different,” said Cathy Rowan, Director of Socially Responsible Investments at Trinity Health. “By evaluating the financial impact of smokefree policies, casino operators can make informed decisions that reflect long-term shareholder value. We’re not telling them what the outcome should be — we’re saying it’s time to look at the numbers.”

Shareholder for similar resolutions is not unprecedented. According to ANRF, last year’s votes at Bally’s Corporation, Boyd Gaming, and Caesars Entertainment indicated growing investor interest in evaluating the business effects of indoor smoking.

“Last year’s success demonstrated that investors are increasingly interested in understanding the financial and business implications of smokefree policies,” said Cynthia Hallett, ANRF president and CEO. “We are encouraged by the strong we’ve received from shareholders and look forward to engaging with more companies this year. The continued investor interest signals a growing recognition that casinos should, at the very least, study the costs of indoor smoking on employee morale, guest satisfaction, and overall profitability.”

Penn Entertainment, while operating only one property in the Las Vegas area—the M Resort Spa Casino—manages more than 40 gaming properties across the country. Likewise, Caesars and Boyd maintain widespread operations beyond their flagship resorts in Las Vegas.

With key shareholder meetings on the horizon, anti-smoking advocates are intensifying their efforts to influence the course of casino policy discussions at the corporate governance level.

Source:

‘’Casino smoking policies get attention as shareholder votes near for Boyd, Caesars, Penn and Wynn’’, cdcgaming.com, April 14, 2025.