The casino will now designate half of the gaming floor for smoking while the other side will be nonsmoking. The nonsmoking section will include both slots and table games, the casino said.
With the change, the casino said 80% of the facility will be nonsmoking — that includes all of its restaurants, Topgolf, the Event Center and the poker room.
Cigars and vaping are “strictly prohibited,” the casino said. When it opened, smoking was allowed on the gaming floor and ashtrays were situated throughout.
The change was made in response to “feedback from guests and the community,” according to the announcement.
Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, a nonprofit that works to prevent the effects of secondhand smoke, compared having a smoking section to having a “peeing section in a pool.”
“This is a weak effort to address the public outcry that has defined the opening week of Rivers Casino Portsmouth. The only solution is to get rid of indoor smoking — move it outside,” said Cynthia Hallett, CEO of the nonprofit.
“Otherwise, casino workers and guests will continue to breathe dangerous secondhand smoke. Rivers has the power to make this decision immediately and attract guests who want to enjoy everything their casino has to offer.”
By Gavin Stone
