This is what the law says. Is not prohibited meant “allowed” in many casinos. And twenty years ago you could hardly found a smoke free casino. But all things change and there appeare more and more casinos with non-smoking areas. 18,000 square-foot non-smoking floor provided by Harrah's Laughlin, for example, appeared back in 1988.


So, we can talk about a problem with smoking at the poker table. Now healthy life-style is very popular and casinos use it to increase their profits: “Our customers absolutely love it. It's very popular with our health-conscious guests. The gaming area is truly divided, but both sides have exciting gaming. We point very sensitive people to the left, others to the right.”


Though it's not always profitable. And that’s why many casinos are not smoke free. You can hear something like this: “Well... we had a non-smoking area... but it was so unpopular and got so little play...” It's understood what happened then with that non-smoking area: either its space was reduced or it was made smoking again.








If you don’t smoke then you’ll say: “But I can’t play poker the best way I can when everybody at the table smokes” or like Tom McEvoy: “They don’t have a right to jeopardize my health, they can go outside”.


But as for me - I don’t think that poker is compatible with health. :) And I like “old style” poker players: squinting, exhaling clouds of smoke… Though only Farha looks like one of them.


There is also another reason why I prefer casinos where smoking is allowed. It’s a very giveaway tell. If a player is calm and it’s clear that he smokes with pleasure then - it’s more likely that he has a good hand, if a player doesn’t let out the smoke… then he is reliably bluffing.


Fortunatelly, now you have a choice - many casinos have non-smoking areas (even Mirage and Bellagio), the WSOP is non-smoking too.


Also - you can play in online-casinos: they are always non-smoking and non-drinking (if you mind it).

By: Mike J Bradley

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