Recently the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida posted signs designating certain locations as non-smoking, including several walkways, elevator banks, restrooms and an area in the high-roller slots room. The Beach Club Café also now is non-smoking, but not the bar area. Smoking still is allowed on the gaming floor, although there are some non-smoking areas. But now visitors may walk the casino perimeter without directly encountering smoke.
Smoking is not allowed in casinos at Florida horse and dog racetracks and jai-alai frontons, in compliance with the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act. Smoking is allowed in Native American casinos, which affords them a competitive advantage since a regular casino patron is a gambler who smokes and drinks, according to research. In fact, when non-smoking laws took effect in New Jersey in 2008, Atlantic City casinos experienced a 15 percent drop in business Casino operators lobbied for and received an exemption.
The Seminoles also installed new air filtration or improved air conditioning at the tribe’s three South Florida casinos in the past few years.
