Public Health Advocates, Musicians Call On Hard Rock to Put Health and Safety First

Bristol, VA — Today, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will open its new permanent location in Bristol, Virginia, with a policy that allows smoking throughout the gaming floor—a decision that raises serious concerns for the health and safety of both employees and patrons. Despite growing public support for smokefree spaces and mounting evidence that smokefree casinos often perform better financially, Hard Rock has opted to continue permitting indoor smoking, putting workers and visitors at risk..

Cynthia Hallett, President and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), issued the following statement: 

“Hard Rock’s decision to allow smoking in its Bristol casino is out of touch with public health standards and popular opinion, and fails to prioritize the safety of its employees and patrons. This decision exposes every worker and patron to toxic secondhand smoke, and ignores the benefits to business and health and safety of employees and guests alike. Hard Rock should end this harmful policy and embrace a 100% smokefree environment that protects everyone who walks through its doors.”

Hard Rock has announced plans to open a designated non-smoking poker area in 2025, but this measure falls short, as experience at its previous temporary facility demonstrates that smoke inevitably spreads, even in so-called “separate” spaces such as restaurants and music venues. Public health experts, including the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), have confirmed that no ventilation or air-cleaning system can eliminate the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. 

Jamie Kent, artist and Chair of Musicians for a Smokefree TN, issued the following statement:

“It’s unacceptable that in the birthplace of country music, musicians might have to still worry about playing shows while being exposed to secondhand smoke. For the health of its talent, its employees, and its patrons, we urge Hard Rock to close the curtain on smoking indoors and create a smokefree casino for all to enjoy.”

Hard Rock executive and former president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City Joe Lupo has repeatedly defended the company’s indoor smoking policies, even downplaying concerns raised by employees and public health advocates. In defense of Hard Rock’s smoking policy, Lupo has pointed to profitability as a top priority, noting that “slot machines that have smoking usually have a higher win-per-unit and usually make more money.” This outdated view is based on economic studies commissioned by the Casino Association of New Jersey during Lupo’s leadership, which stand in stark contrast to recent independent research from C3 Gaming. C3’s findings show that smokefree casinos are not only feasible but are often financially successful, particularly as public preferences have shifted post-pandemic toward healthier environments

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ABOUT AMERICANS FOR NONSMOKERS’ RIGHTS Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for over 45 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos. ANR has continuously shined a light on the tobacco industry’s interference with sound and life-saving public health measures and successfully protected 61% of the population with local or statewide smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar laws. ANR aims to close gaps in smokefree protections for workers in all workplaces, including bars, music venues, casinos, and hotels. For more information, please visit https://nonsmokersrights.org and https://smokefreecasinos.org

Read more about Ventilation here: https://no-smoke.org/smokefree-threats/ventilation/