Only 18.9% of Caesars Entertainment shareholders voted in favor of commissioning a study looking at the economic impacts of smoke-free casinos. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

No luck

Despite increasing debate in the industry regarding the matter, most shareholders of Caesars Entertainment don’t want to study the possible economic effects of smoke-free casinos.

Healthcare company Trinity Health and Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation requested that Caesars commission a study about potential cost savings of a smoke-free policy at the 52 properties it operates across the US. In a vote during the annual shareholder meeting last Tuesday, investors strongly rejected the idea.

only 18.9% of votes favored the measure

The filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to the meeting shows that only 18.9% of votes favored the measure. The groups behind the idea acknowledged the support the motion did receive and said they plan to pursue another vote next year.

Happy with its current approach

The Caesars Board of Directors said in a statement in April that it believes that carrying out such a study wouldn’t be an efficient way to deploy resources and underlined that the company’s properties are all in line with smoking laws across the country.

Caesars shareholders weren’t the only ones to reject this idea; Boyd Gaming and Bally’s Corporation investors did the same last month during their respective meetings.

In calling on shareholders to reject the motion, the Board said the matter is a “complex business decision” and that Caesars already strikes a good balance in catering to both smokers and non-smokers.

Growing frustrations

While smoking in workplaces is no longer permitted in most states, bars and casinos are the main exceptions in certain jurisdictions like Nevada and New Jersey.

Workers complain about suffering from the effects of second-hand smoke while at their jobs. A group of Atlantic City casino employees expressed their displeasure at the dropping of a smoking ban bill by protesting the state Senate in December, lighting up cigarettes and blowing smoke at lawmakers.  

The only completely smoke-free casino on the Las Vegas Strip is the MGM Resorts International-owned Park MGM.

A recent study from the Nevada Tobacco Control and Smoke-Free Coalition found that the majority of respondents support prohibiting smoking in all workplaces with no exceptions. Casinos largely oppose change as they believe a ban would turn away customers and significantly hurt their bottom lines.