As Accountable Gaming Training Month Begins, ANR Requires Smokefree Environments that Let Gamers Act Deliberately
Berkeley, CA — As casinos and the American Gaming Affiliation (AGA) mark Accountable Gaming Training Month, Individuals for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is spotlighting a obtrusive hole within the business’s message: casinos can not credibly promote accountability whereas nonetheless permitting smoking indoors.
The business’s 2025 marketing campaign encourages gamers to “Play Good from the Begin” by setting limits, taking breaks, and staying intentional. But smoke-filled casinos instantly undermine these very rules by protecting gamers on the desk longer, discouraging breaks, and exposing everybody to poisonous air.
“The business says accountable gaming means enjoying with intention and understanding when to take a break. However when casinos let folks smoke on the desk, they eradicate these pure stopping factors that assist gamers ‘Act Deliberately.’ Smokefree casinos aren’t nearly defending well being, they’re basic to accountable gaming,” stated Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Individuals for Nonsmokers’ Rights. “If the business is critical about sustainability and accountability, smokefree air have to be the muse. Till casinos shut the smoking loophole, Accountable Gaming Month will ring hole.”
Business speaking factors about staying intentional, setting a finances, taking breaks, and offering a protected and enjoyable expertise all fall flat in smoke-filled casinos. Permitting indoor smoking creates an surroundings that encourages addictive habits, prolongs playing periods, and undermines worker coaching packages meant to advertise accountable play. Analysis has already proven the hurt: a Rutgers Middle for Playing Research report discovered that 77.6% of high-risk downside gamblers additionally use tobacco, underscoring the shut hyperlink between the 2 addictions. The Nationwide Council on Downside Playing has warned that smokefree casinos are more likely to scale back downside playing and enhance public well being.
One research from C3 Gaming factors out that casinos acknowledge the connection between smoking and downside playing. People who smoke who step away from the tables for breaks typically make intentional choices about whether or not to proceed enjoying. This underscores a core precept of accountable gaming: taking a pause permits gamers to reset and act deliberately. Casinos realize it, however they proceed to place income forward of accountability.
Whereas practically each different office and public venue within the U.S. is smokefree, casinos stay an exception — putting income over accountability. With smoking charges at historic lows and shopper demand shifting towards wholesome, protected environments, casinos are out of step with public opinion and their very own acknowledged values.
The Council on Compulsive Playing of New Jersey’s 1-800-GAMBLER Helpline and web site www.800gambler.org have been sources for hundreds of individuals with a playing downside, these in restoration, in addition to their mates and households. The 1-800-GAMBLER® helpline is free and confidential, and is obtainable 24 hours a day in New Jersey and all through a lot of the U.S.
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Individuals for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for practically 50 years, since 1976, to guard everybody’s proper to breathe unhazardous air in workplaces and public locations, from workplaces and airplanes to eating places, bars, and casinos. ANR has repeatedly shined a light-weight on the tobacco business’s interference with sound and life-saving public well being measures and efficiently protected 61% of the inhabitants with native or statewide smokefree office, restaurant, and bar legal guidelines. ANR goals to shut gaps in smokefree protections for staff in all workplaces, together with bars, music venues, casinos, and accommodations. For extra data, please go to and https://smokefreecasinos.org.
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