Can You Smoke in Detroit Casinos? 2024 Update

Is Smoking Allowed in Detroit’s Casinos?

With the temporary smoking bans placed on casinos during the pandemic now lifted, Detroit’s three casinos are once again eligible to allow indoor public smoking on the gaming floor, in accordance with the casino gaming floor exemption made in Michigan’s Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law.

The Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law casino exemption is only valid for the casino floor. Other spaces in the casino must remain smoke-free and follow regular guidance. Each Detroit casino’s smoking policy is essentially up to them, so long as smoking areas are on the gaming floor.

Can You Smoke at MGM Detroit?

The MGM Grand smoking policy accommodates two dedicated smoking areas, Smoking Slots East and Smoking Slots West. The two smoking areas are slots only, eliminating the need for dealers and reducing the number of staff members required to operate in smoke. The areas are also separated by doors, minimizing the amount of smoke leaving the area.

Players must be actively playing slots to be allowed to smoke in the area, and those simply looking to light up and pass some time must head to the regular outdoor smoking patio. So it’s not just about “can you smoke in Michigan casinos?”, it’s about “what do you need to do to be allowed to smoke in a casino?”.

Can You Smoke in Greektown Casino?

Perhaps the most smoke-friendly casino in Detroit, the Greektown Casino smoking policy allows for smoking on the majority of the second-floor gaming space. There is a small open-air non-smoking section on the second floor, though guests will still have to make their way through a smoke-filled environment to reach the Barstool Sportsbook lounge.

Can You Smoke in MotorCity Casino?

MotorCity is the only of Detroit’s three casinos to completely prohibit smoking across its entire property, including the gaming floor.

The casino has kept its smoking ban set during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the only non-smoking casino in the city, MotorCity could potentially attract a clientele looking for exactly that environment.

What Do the Patrons Think?

It’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to what patrons want at the casino. Naturally, smokers are more inclined to visit casinos that allow smoking, whereas non-smokers typically see smoking indoors as a net negative for themselves and sometimes the staff.

According to reviews left by real Michigan patrons on sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp, guests are more likely to find the smoke a nuisance. This might be due to the fact that they can simply walk away from smokey areas, something staff cannot do.

AC Casino regular John Bucek enjoyed the mandated smoking ban and feels his experience in smoking casinos is now worse for the smoke. Many more like John may be looking for non-smoking casinos to get their fill in the future.

Health Risks and Concerns

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, state-of-the-art ventilation does not completely eliminate health risks. They state:

Even when smoking areas are placed separately from non-smoking areas, the drift of smoke and smell can still easily make its way around the entire property, meaning casinos that allow smoking, even on a small portion of the casino floor, is essentially off-limits to pregnant women and those with serious pre-existing respiratory problems.

Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE), an anti-smoking non-profit in NJ, drew comparisons between the smokey air caused by wildfires to that of a casino floor.

Is Allowing Smoking Good for a Casino?

The fact is that allowing smoking in casinos is generally considered good for business, and historically, in places where smoking has been banned, there have been sharp declines in revenue. That said, new studies have shown that after the pandemic, non-smoking patrons are less likely to put up with smoke after experiencing smoke-free play.

One study suggests that going smoke-free might actually boost casino revenue. The report, which was not sponsored by any outside party, says, “Data from multiple jurisdictions clearly indicates that banning smoking no longer causes a dramatic drop in gaming revenue.” It adds, “In fact, non-smoking properties appear to be performing better than their counterparts that continue to allow smoking.”