Their claim that a smoking ban will hurt their profits is totally hogwash.
http://www.gamingtoday.com/today/story.bv?storyid=18579 (Archive copy)
http://www.gamingtoday.com/today/story.bv?storyid=18579 (Archive copy)
As I suspected, the casino industry is full of sh-t
- Thread starter Thunder
- Start date
Automatic Monkey
Banned
In my visits since the partial smoking ban I did not see any loss of crowd. But being I am only focusing on BJ and derivative games, I probably wouldn't notice what was going on in the rest of the casino.
My first visit after the partial ban, the casinos were pleasant and reasonably smoke free. But on subsequent visits they were either not enforcing the ban or weaseling around it in such a way as to make it worthless, and the tables were indistinguishable from a smoking casino. I was getting the feeling it was intentional too, almost like they situated the non-smoking among the smoking to drive the non-smokers away.
I was discussing this with a PC on one trip, he was repeating the management line that the smoking ban was hurting business. I told him- oh is that so? Maybe the loss of business also has something to do with the fact that your games suck, your service sucks, and your casinos suck?
My first visit after the partial ban, the casinos were pleasant and reasonably smoke free. But on subsequent visits they were either not enforcing the ban or weaseling around it in such a way as to make it worthless, and the tables were indistinguishable from a smoking casino. I was getting the feeling it was intentional too, almost like they situated the non-smoking among the smoking to drive the non-smokers away.
I was discussing this with a PC on one trip, he was repeating the management line that the smoking ban was hurting business. I told him- oh is that so? Maybe the loss of business also has something to do with the fact that your games suck, your service sucks, and your casinos suck?
For the last week 1/2, it's been a total smoking ban in the casino. The partial smoking ban was a joke. I remember asking a police officer, whose job is it to enforce the law. He told me it's the casino's responsibility. I then asked a guy in the casino at the security desk. He said it's the state police's responsibility. That among other reasons is why a partial ban won't work. It's gotta be one or the other.
Liquid Chips
Well-Known Member
As soon as you start winning a significant sum, I'm sure they will enforce the non-smoking ban on you (not that you were smoking, but if you were....):grin:
Automatic Monkey
Banned
What they don't want is people to have to break the rhythm of the slot machine to go out and smoke. Both cigarettes and slots are addictive but the nicotine will probably win in the long run. The same number of people will come to the casino, they'll just lose less. The same reason for serving alcohol at the games, and advanced alcoholics can play a machine embedded in a bar. The logical progression would be to make accommodations for sexual compulsives who are also gambling addicts, maybe a screened off area where they can abuse themselves and each other and still keep up their theoretical loss per hour.GeorgeD said:
zengrifter
Banned
You had your suscpicions about the industry, huh?Thunder said:
What was your first hint? zg
SystemsTrader
Well-Known Member
It probably works both ways as American non-smokers now cross the border to play in a smoke free environment.GeorgeD said:
blackchipjim
Well-Known Member
ac profits down
As reported in the headlines of the gaming news ac profits are down in the last 12 days. The mayor has a postponement to sign to lift the ban til next year. Facts are facts it doesn't matter how a person feels about smoking. It happend in Canada and the same will hit AC like it or not. People who gamble smoke and drink while they play. The people who do will go to the casinos that allow that freedom to do so. Indian casinos are down in profit but not as much as yankee casinos that have smoking bans. blackchipjim
As reported in the headlines of the gaming news ac profits are down in the last 12 days. The mayor has a postponement to sign to lift the ban til next year. Facts are facts it doesn't matter how a person feels about smoking. It happend in Canada and the same will hit AC like it or not. People who gamble smoke and drink while they play. The people who do will go to the casinos that allow that freedom to do so. Indian casinos are down in profit but not as much as yankee casinos that have smoking bans. blackchipjim
Automatic Monkey
Banned
The smartest thing for AC to do would be to have some properties all smoking and others all non-smoking. The whole building, rooms & all.
That way, non-smokers won't have to deal with the smoke and the worthless non-smoking areas, and smokers won't have to deal with keeping out of the non-smoking areas. And each property could tailor their marketing for a smoking or non-smoking crowd. e.g., the smoking casinos would have more Asian games and entertainment, and the non-smoking ones would cater to a younger and more US-born crowd.
It would be win-win, but casinos would never even try it to see what happens. Casinos do not like gambling.
That way, non-smokers won't have to deal with the smoke and the worthless non-smoking areas, and smokers won't have to deal with keeping out of the non-smoking areas. And each property could tailor their marketing for a smoking or non-smoking crowd. e.g., the smoking casinos would have more Asian games and entertainment, and the non-smoking ones would cater to a younger and more US-born crowd.
It would be win-win, but casinos would never even try it to see what happens. Casinos do not like gambling.
callipygian
Well-Known Member
But profits everywhere are down. Are they saying that AC is down further than other comparable areas?blackchipjim said:
blackchipjim
Well-Known Member
The ban
Yes the effect of smoking ban was quick. The reported 10% drop to already depressed market. I don't really believe the accuracy of the report considering it coinsided with the market free fall in the past two weeks. I do know the Canada casinos never recovered from the ban. I went there on a visit recently Canada that is, and the place really went down at least in Niagra falls. The only thing the casinos really need is good ventilation and don't understand why they can't mimic Vegas style air exchange. blackchipjim
Yes the effect of smoking ban was quick. The reported 10% drop to already depressed market. I don't really believe the accuracy of the report considering it coinsided with the market free fall in the past two weeks. I do know the Canada casinos never recovered from the ban. I went there on a visit recently Canada that is, and the place really went down at least in Niagra falls. The only thing the casinos really need is good ventilation and don't understand why they can't mimic Vegas style air exchange. blackchipjim