You’re standing on the Boardwalk. The salt air is whipping off the Atlantic, and honestly, it’s freezing. You just want to head back to your room, kick off your shoes, and light up without having to trek through a massive casino floor or stand in a designated "smoking pen" outside the main entrance. But here’s the thing: finding smoking rooms in Atlantic City has become a bit of a scavenger hunt lately.
It’s tricky.
New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act and various local ordinances have squeezed the options for smokers down to a very specific set of properties. If you book the wrong place, you’re looking at a $250 cleaning fee—or worse, an awkward conversation with security. Most people assume every casino resort has a "smoking floor." They don't. Some have gone entirely smoke-free in their hotel towers, even if they still allow puffing on the gaming floor.
The current state of smoking rooms in Atlantic City
Basically, the landscape changed a lot after 2020. While the push to ban smoking entirely in casinos is a massive political football in Trenton right now—with groups like CEASE (Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects) pushing hard for a total ban—the hotel rooms themselves are governed by different sets of internal corporate policies.
Most Atlantic City resorts still technically offer smoking rooms, but the inventory is shrinking.
Take Borgata, for example. It’s arguably the nicest joint in town. They still have smoking rooms available in the Borgata Tower, but the Water Club (now renamed the MGM Tower) is historically more restrictive. You have to be incredibly specific when you use the MGM Rewards app, or you’ll end up in a room where the windows don't open and the smoke detectors are sensitive enough to pick up a stray thought.
Then you have the Boardwalk staples. Bally's and Resorts are usually your best bets if you want a smoking-friendly environment. These older properties tend to maintain a higher percentage of smoking-designated floors compared to the newer, "lifestyle" brands.
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Why it's getting harder to find a spot
It’s about the money. Housekeeping costs for smoking rooms are significantly higher. It takes more than just a vacuum; we’re talking deep-cleans of the drapes and specialized air scrubbers. Because of this, many hotels are pivoting. They’d rather have a "clean" room that they can flip quickly to any guest than a smoking room that might alienate a family with kids.
Also, the legal pressure is real.
New Jersey Senate Bill S1493 has been looming over the industry. If it passes, it would close the loophole that allows smoking on casino floors. While that technically targets the gaming areas, the vibe in the city is shifting toward a "breathable" experience. If you're a smoker, you're increasingly pushed to the margins.
Where you can actually stay and smoke
If you’re planning a trip, don't just "hope" for the best at check-in. You’ll get stuck on the 40th floor of a non-smoking tower and spend half your vacation in an elevator.
Tropicana Atlantic City is massive. Like, confusingly big. Because it has so many different towers (Havana, Chelsea, North, South), it still maintains a decent stock of smoking rooms. The Havana Tower is often the go-to here. It feels a bit more separated from the main chaos, which is nice.
Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah's Resort also keep smoking rooms on the inventory. At Harrah's, you'll usually find them in the Coastal or Atrium towers. But a word of advice: these rooms move fast. Since fewer hotels offer them, the demand from the remaining smoking population is concentrated.
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- Bally's Atlantic City: Often has smoking options in the Bally Tower.
- Golden Nugget: Located in the Marina District, they still cater to smokers, though the rooms are starting to show their age compared to the Borgata across the street.
- Ocean Casino Resort: This is the wildcard. It’s the newest, shiniest building. While they have incredible views, their smoking room inventory is much tighter. You’re more likely to be told "we’re full" on smoking rooms here than at a place like Resorts.
Honestly, the "off-Boardwalk" motels are also an option if you’re on a budget, but the quality drop-off is steep. You might get your smoking room at a budget spot near Pacific Avenue, but you’re sacrificing the security and amenities of the big resorts. Not usually worth the trade-off.
What happens if you break the rules?
Don't try to "ghost" a cigarette in a non-smoking room.
The tech has gotten way better. We aren't just talking about old-school smoke detectors that beep. Many AC hotels have installed sensors like FreshAir Sensor or similar tech that detects the specific molecular signature of tobacco or marijuana smoke. They get a silent alert at the front desk. They don’t even come knock; they just add a $250 to $500 cleaning fee to your folio before you’ve even checked out.
If you’re in a non-smoking room at Hard Rock, they are particularly strict. Their brand is all about that "fresh" rockstar vibe—not the stale-ash vibe of a 1970s lounge.
The Casino Floor vs. The Hotel Room
There is a weird cognitive dissonance in Atlantic City.
You can walk into a casino, stand next to a slot machine, and light up. But if you take ten steps into the hotel lobby, you have to put it out. According to the current law, casinos can permit smoking on up to 25% of the gaming floor.
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This leads to a lot of confusion for travelers. They think, "If I can smoke while playing blackjack, surely I can smoke in my bed." Wrong. The hotel towers are treated as separate entities under the law.
If you are a cigar smoker, the rules change again. Most smoking rooms in Atlantic City are fine with cigarettes, but the heavy scent of a Maduro cigar is often too much for the standard ventilation. For that, you really want to head to a dedicated lounge. The Borata Outdoor Pool Bar or some of the specialized lounges like A Dam Good Cigar Lounge in the Tropicana are your best bets. They have the ventilation systems designed for heavy smoke.
Practical tips for booking your smoking room
- Call, don't just click. Booking sites like Expedia or Booking.com often have "requests" for smoking rooms, but these aren't guaranteed. Call the hotel’s front desk directly after booking. Ask for the room number or the specific floor.
- Join the loyalty program. Caesar’s Rewards and MGM Rewards members get preference. If there’s only one smoking room left and two people want it, the person with the Diamond or Gold card gets it every time.
- Check the "Smoking Permitted" map. Some casinos, like Ocean, have very specific zones on the floor. If you want a smoking room, try to stay in a tower that has easy access to these zones so you aren't hiking across the property.
- The "Wet Towel" myth is dead. People used to put a wet towel under the door. With modern HVAC systems, the smoke is pulled into the return vents. The hotel will know.
The future of smoking in AC
The "Smokefree Atlantic City" movement is gaining steam. In the last year, more politicians in Trenton have signed on to the ban than ever before. If the law passes, it’s highly likely that smoking rooms in Atlantic City will be phased out entirely within 24 months.
The industry is scared. They look at places like Parx Casino in Pennsylvania, which went smoke-free and saw a dip in revenue, though others argue the long-term health savings and new "clean air" customers offset the loss.
For now, you can still find your spot. You just have to be deliberate about it.
Actionable Next Steps for Travelers
- Verify your tower: Before confirming a reservation at Tropicana or Harrah's, ensure your specific tower choice even offers smoking rooms; some towers are strictly smoke-free.
- Book 3 weeks out: Smoking rooms are a finite resource. They sell out much faster than standard rooms, especially during concert weekends at Boardwalk Hall.
- Pack a travel air purifier: If you end up in a smoking room that smells a bit too much like the 1990s, a small HEPA filter can help manage the stale air.
- Check the breeze: If you can't get a smoking room, ask for a room with a balcony. They are rare in AC (mostly found at the Chelsea Tower at Trop or certain suites), but they are the ultimate loophole.
The Atlantic City experience is changing. It's becoming more polished and less "gritty." Whether that's a good thing depends on which side of the lighter you're on. Just make sure you do your homework before you hand over your credit card, or you'll be spending your vacation standing on a windy Boardwalk corner.