Smoking is returning to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino inside the Solstice Lounge

It's been roughly three years since the COVID-19 pandemic ended smoking at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, but now the activity that has been deemed detrimental to one's health by major health organizations for decades, is returning to the site inside its Solstice Lounge.

Potawatomi announced the change on social media earlier this week and the new policy is effective as of Saturday.

When Potawatomi announced it was remaining smoke-free after lifting COVID-19 protocols in May 2021, the American Lung Association commended the decision by the tribe to keep the site smoke-free.

"We certainly appreciated the commendation, but it was not something we sought out," said spokesperson Ryan Amundson with the casino. "Accommodating our guests is our first priority."

Smoking will only be allowed at the Solstice Lounge, located on the second level. Normally, the room is considered an exclusive VIP high-limit room with 80 slot machines and four blackjack games. The room will now be open to everyone, Amundson said.

VIP level guest will have priority during high-volume times on weekends however, until the new VIP lounge will open later this year. The new lounge is part of the casino's $100 million renovation project.

Amundson said Potawatomi decided they needed to provide a small, indoor space for guests, so they could be more accommodating. "Some of our guests are smokers, and they have been asking for this," Amundson said, adding that it is far enough away from other casino amenities, that "Guests who have appreciated a smoke-free environment will not experience any change."

In 1964, a Surgeon General's report highlighting the hazards of smoking received widespread attention and prompted a decline in cigarette sales. In 1966, the first cautionary label appeared on cigarette packs, stating that cigarette smoking "may be hazardous to your health." The warnings were updated in 1970 and again in 1985. In 1967, anti-smoking ads began to air on television.

The Wisconsin Legislature enacted Act 12 in 2010, prohibiting smoking indoors. The Milwaukee Common Council later folded the legislation into city ordinances. The tribal casinos in Wisconsin are excluded from the indoor bans because of their sovereign status in the state.

The American Lung Association, was founded in 1904 to help improve lung health and prevent lung disease. The charity has long been a voice in a movement to end tobacco-use. Smoking can destroy your lungs, causing a number of different diseases, including lung cancer.

For those who prefer to smoke outside, Amundson said a fenced outdoor area exists between the hotel and casino on the hotel's west side.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.