Comparing a smoker's behavior to a person crossing the street (as mentioned above) is a poor analogy, however, it does reinforce the oblivious nature of the problem.

Look, there doesn't have to be a smoking ban in Las Vegas. People just need to be smarter about their actions and gaming resorts need to develop responsible plans to win both smoking and non-smoking customers over without having to separate them. Circulating air is fine for the overall air on the floor. Smoke drifting across your face while you are playing is UNPLEASANT and it takes the fun out of gaming. Smokers can't control where their smoke is going to drift so close in proximity to others, and as long as they need to hold the cigarette while they play the machine, it will drift in the faces of those sitting next to them. This is why gaming corporations need to put an emphasis on acquiring better equipment designed to redirect idle burning cigarette smoke into a simple filtration system as the gamer plays. This is not sophisticated technology and would be a lot cheaper than a smoking ban. It is an approach that would permit EVERYONE a pleasant environment to play.

A smoke-free environment is in the best interest of all patrons and employees. I wonder if all the extra revenue that casinos claim to generate from smokers is worth the extra labor and replacement materials necessary to clean up after them. (i.e. machines used as ash trays, burned seating and carpet) Or for that matter, the revenue lost from non-smokers cashing out when a smoker sits down next to them and lights up without any regard for the people sitting around them. There is a behavioral element to the smoking issue that nobody seems to address and that is common courtesy. The struggle with smokers wouldn't be half as bad if they simply cared to ask the people sitting around them "would you mind if I smoked a cigarette?". Truthfully, my answer would be, "no, as long as you hold the cigarette below your seat and exhale upward - and thank you for asking, its refreshing".

Until things change for the better, hopefully one smoker who reads this post will think twice the next time they go to light up.

Casino marketing teams, I challenge you to ditch just one of your tin canister giveaways and offer a quality breathing mask that will allow non-smokers to play beyond the limited 100 games or less in a non-smoking section.

IGT . Design your slot encasements to include a cigarette port in your machines that will suck the smoke into a filtration system.

Make no mistake, a non-smoking gaming environment is in the best interest of patrons and employees. Until we get there, something should be said about the behavioral aspect of this problem: lack of good human nature, common courtesy and respect for one another. Behavioral qualities that have 'gone up in smoke'.

FACT 1: A cigarette contaminates the air with poison.
FACT 2: Non-smokers dislike it when a smoker sits next to them and lights up without extending the courtesy of asking "would you mind if I smoked a cigarette?"

In the last five years of living and gaming in Las Vegas only TWO smokers have ever extended the courtesy of asking me if smoking a cigarette would bother me while I play. My response is, "thank you so much for asking...I do wear contacts and won't mind if you exhale upward and set your cigarette in between the machines when not smoking it". SIMPLE. Everyone is happy. Non-smokers know that a casino is no different than any other social environment that permits smoking. NON-SMOKERS SIMPLY DON'T WANT SMOKE DRIFTING IN THEIR GAMING SPACE (particularly their face) WHILE THEY PLAY.

My suggestion to smokers is to decide BEFORE leaving the house if you are willing to politely ask the folks sitting next around you "would you mind if I smoke a cigarette? - I will be very considerate as to not direct smoke at you". Use ash trays, refrain from putting butts out on the casino carpets and remove ashes off your game when you cash out. If that extension of good nature isn't worth the risk of missing out on a cigarette, then seek help to save yourself and those around you.