Palms Casino Resort Marks New Nonsmoking Gaming Area with Ribbon-Cutting and Charity Tournament

The Palms hotel-casino in Las Vegas held a ribbon-cutting ceremony paired with a charity slot tournament to celebrate the grand opening of its new 7,300-square-foot fully enclosed nonsmoking gaming area, and the space had already welcomed the public the prior week. Organizers structured the event around guest requests for additional smoke-free options, which led to the addition of 224 new slot machines along with a dedicated bar inside the enclosed section. San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, the owner and operator, joined forces with IGT to support the occasion through donations that ultimately raised approximately $35,000 for ten Southern Nevada charities. The tournament itself drew participants who competed on the fresh machines while proceeds flowed directly to the designated organizations. ## Details of the Ceremony and Tournament Staff arranged the ribbon-cutting on the casino floor where executives from the Palms and its partners gathered with local charity representatives. Guests then moved into the tournament format that featured timed sessions on the 224 machines, and each round contributed to the final donation total. The enclosed design keeps the area separate from smoking sections, which allows continuous play without exposure to smoke. Those who attended observed how the dedicated bar serves the new space exclusively, providing beverages without requiring patrons to exit the nonsmoking zone. The layout incorporates the machines in a configuration that maximizes floor flow while maintaining clear boundaries from adjacent gaming areas. ## Charitable Contributions and Partners San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority supplied a significant portion of the funds while IGT added matching support that helped reach the $35,000 mark. Ten local charities received shares of the proceeds, and representatives from those groups attended the ceremony to accept the donations on site. The partnership between the two companies extended beyond financial support, because IGT also supplied the 224 new slot machines that now occupy the space. This equipment arrived configured for the enclosed environment, and the machines operate alongside the bar area to create a self-contained experience for players seeking smoke-free options. ## Response to Guest Demand Casino management cited ongoing requests from visitors for more smoke-free gaming choices as the primary driver behind the expansion. The 7,300-square-foot footprint provides dedicated room for the machines and bar, and the fully enclosed structure ensures the nonsmoking policy remains consistent throughout operating hours. Data from the event shows strong initial turnout once the area opened to the public the week before the ceremony, and the tournament served as a formal marker of that launch. Observers noted that the combination of new equipment and the bar amenity directly addresses feedback collected from prior guests who wanted extended options without leaving the property. ## Operational Features of the New Space The 224 slot machines occupy the majority of the floor within the enclosed section, and each unit connects to the casino's central monitoring systems for real-time tracking. The dedicated bar sits at one end of the layout, which allows servers to deliver drinks while players remain at their machines. Because the area opened the prior week, staff had already adjusted lighting, seating, and ventilation to meet guest preferences before the ribbon-cutting took place. The ceremony therefore highlighted an operational space rather than an unfinished project, and tournament participants experienced the finished product during their sessions. ## Conclusion The ribbon-cutting ceremony and charity slot tournament at the Palms delivered both a public celebration and tangible support for ten Southern Nevada charities through the combined contributions of San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority and IGT. The new 7,300-square-foot enclosed nonsmoking gaming area now operates with 224 machines and a dedicated bar in direct response to documented guest demand, and the event reinforced the casino's commitment to expanding those options while raising approximately $35,000 for local causes. According to coverage in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the space continues to serve players who prefer smoke-free environments, and the partnership model demonstrated during the tournament offers a template for future community-focused openings at the property.