Palms Hotel-Casino Opens Enclosed Nonsmoking Gaming Space via Inaugural Charity Slot Challenge
Written by Petra Schmitz · Sep 5, 2026
Palms Hotel-Casino Opens Enclosed Nonsmoking Gaming Space via Inaugural Charity Slot Challenge
The Palms hotel-casino in Las Vegas marked the opening of its new 7,300-square-foot fully enclosed nonsmoking gaming expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that also launched the inaugural Spin It Forward IGT Charity Slot Challenge, and this event directed funds toward ten local nonprofit organizations while highlighting expanded gaming options on the property.
Owned and operated by the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, the venue added 224 slot machines along with a dedicated bar inside the enclosed area, and the setup created a distinct space separate from the main casino floor where guests can play without exposure to smoke from other sections.
Details of the Expansion and Ceremony
Construction produced a self-contained environment measuring exactly 7,300 square feet that features the full complement of 224 slot machines plus its own bar service, while the ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together representatives from the casino operator, IGT, and the participating nonprofits to celebrate both the physical addition and the charitable component attached to the launch.
Attendees observed the official opening of the nonsmoking zone, and the event simultaneously initiated the Spin It Forward program that turned slot play into a fundraising mechanism during the tournament period.
The Spin It Forward IGT Charity Slot Challenge
Through the Spin It Forward IGT Charity Slot Challenge the property generated roughly 35,000 dollars in total contributions for the ten selected nonprofits, and the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority supplied 25,000 dollars of that amount by allocating 2,500 dollars to each organization while IGT contributed the remaining 10,000 dollars through awards tied directly to tournament results.
Participants entered the slot tournament held within the new expansion, and proceeds from entry fees along with the operator and supplier donations combined to reach the overall fundraising total without requiring additional external appeals.
Role of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority
The San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, which manages the Palms, structured its donation to distribute equal shares across the ten nonprofits, and this approach ensured balanced support rather than concentrating funds on a single cause during the opening activities.
Authority representatives participated in the ribbon-cutting and tournament oversight, and their involvement underscored the operator's ongoing engagement with community organizations in the Las Vegas area.
IGT Contribution and Tournament Structure
IGT provided 10,000 dollars in awards distributed according to tournament performance within the new gaming space, and the supplier also supplied the slot machines and technology that enabled the enclosed area to operate as a standalone venue from the first day of play.
Tournament brackets ran on the 224 machines, and results determined the allocation of the IGT-funded prizes while the base donations from the authority remained fixed regardless of individual outcomes.
Community Organizations and Fundraising Outcome
Ten local nonprofit organizations each received 2,500 dollars from the authority's contribution, and the combined total with IGT awards produced the reported 35,000-dollar figure that marked the first execution of the Spin It Forward initiative at the property.
Event organizers noted that the challenge format allowed casino guests to participate directly in the fundraising process through tournament entries, and this model tied gaming activity to the support of community groups without additional overhead.
Broader Context of Nonsmoking Options in Las Vegas Gaming
Las Vegas properties have introduced various nonsmoking gaming zones over recent years, and the Palms addition of a fully enclosed 7,300-square-foot space equipped with 224 machines and a bar represents one specific implementation of that trend at an off-Strip location.
The enclosed design separates the new area from adjacent smoking-permitted sections, and the presence of its own bar allows guests to remain inside the nonsmoking environment for extended periods during play.
Conclusion
teh ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Palms therefore served dual purposes by unveiling the new nonsmoking gaming expansion and establishing the Spin It Forward IGT Charity Slot Challenge as a mechanism that delivered approximately 35,000 dollars to ten local nonprofits through the combined contributions of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority and IGT. The 7,300-square-foot area now operates with 224 slot machines and dedicated bar service, and the inaugural tournament demonstrated how slot play can connect directly to charitable outcomes at the venue. Further details appear in coverage from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.