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Smoking And Gambling Hard Habit To Break In Nevada

Smoking, drinking and gambling are together part of the culture that is Las Vegas.
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Smoking, drinking and gambling are together part of the culture that is Las Vegas.

Let’s set the scene.

Thousands of tourists land in Las Vegas every day. And like clockwork, they check in, grab a drink, maybe throw a 20 into a slot and light up a cigarette

Walk into any bar in Las Vegas, for that matter, and a cloud of smoke will likely greet you.

Smoking is part of the Vegas scene and, arguably, one of the little vices people enjoy as part of their experience here.

In 2011, lawmakers eased some restrictions on the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act. The change age-restricted taverns, saloons and bars to serve food while customers smoke. Tavern owners were happy, anti-smokers were not.

In addition, earlier this month, Nevada received three failing grades in the American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control report. We received an F in Tobacco Prevention Program Funding; an F in Tobacco Taxes; and an F for Access to Tobacco Cessation Treatments.

So what would it take to get Nevada's casinos to go smoke free? 

Howard Stutz, gaming reporter, Las Vegas Review-Journal 

Chris Sieroty, producer, KNPR 

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Prior to taking on the role of Broadcast Operations Manager in January 2021, Rachel was the senior producer of KNPR's State of Nevada program for 6 years. She helped compile newscasts and provided coverage for and about the people of Southern Nevada, as well as major events such as the October 1 shooting on the Las Vegas strip, protests of racial injustice, elections and more. Rachel graduated with a bachelor's degree of journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University.