Gambling Revenue Meeting Expectations At Smoke Free Nevada Casino

Casino owners around the US are quick to point out that smoking and gambling go together. Many owners claim their casinos cannot survive without having the dangerous toxins in the air.

One Nevada casino, however, is taking the opposite approach. The Fernley Nugget was constructed and opened with the hopes that gamblers would want to enjoy their entertainment dollars without having to deal with other people's dangerous habits.

"This casino was the best thing that ever happened to me. I stopped going to other casinos because I couldn't stand the way I smelled when I left. Now, I can gamble without having to be forced to inhale cigarette smoke," said Julie Resoner, a Reno resident.

Fernley was not founded on the idea that they were helping out citizens. They are after the same thing that other casinos are out for, gamblers money.

"We are not as a company taking a position to be smoke-free facilities going forward. But this particular facility, in this particular market, in this particular location, we feel we could be successful," said General Manager Scott Tate.

The casino opened their doors the second week in November, and so far the casino has met the financial expectations of its owners. With gambling revenue down in Nevada, just the idea that the new casino is meeting expectations says something about the smoke free concept.

Others would like to move in that direction, but they cannot do so if their competitors will not move with them. "Our position is that we would be very supportive if everyone were to go in that (smoke free) direction. But it is very hard when you are adjacent to another property, a competitor, and they have an offering that you don't," said Harrah's Spokeswoman, Marybel Batjer.

December 27, 2008
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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