Palms Hotel-Casino Completes Ribbon-Cutting for Enclosed Non-Smoking Gaming Expansion
Written by Felix Butler · Sep 3, 2026
Palms Hotel-Casino Completes Ribbon-Cutting for Enclosed Non-Smoking Gaming Expansion
The Palms hotel-casino in Las Vegas marked the opening of its new 7,300-square-foot fully enclosed non-smoking gaming expansion through a ribbon-cutting ceremony that highlighted 224 slot machines along with a dedicated bar area, and observers note the space connects directly to existing facilities while maintaining separation from smoking sections throughout the property.
Event organizers coordinated the inaugural “Spin It Forward” IGT Charity Slot Challenge on the same day, which generated roughly $35,000 in total proceeds directed toward 10 Southern Nevada nonprofits, and the challenge featured tournament-style play on the new machines where participants contributed entry fees that accumulated into the final donation amount.
Expansion Features and Layout Details
The new gaming area spans exactly 7,300 square feet and remains fully enclosed to prevent smoke infiltration from adjacent spaces, while the design incorporates 224 slot machines supplied through a partnership with IGT along with a standalone bar that serves beverages to players without requiring them to leave the non-smoking zone, and those who've studied similar projects note how such configurations allow continuous play sessions in controlled environments.
Construction integrated the expansion into the existing Palms footprint on the off-Strip location, with pathways that funnel guests from main casino floors into the new section, and the bar itself operates as a central fixture that provides service while the slot machines occupy perimeter positions around the space to maximize flow and accessibility for all visitors.
Charity Challenge Outcomes and Donations
The “Spin It Forward” event raised approximately $35,000 through combined player contributions and sponsor support, after which organizers distributed the funds across 10 local nonprofits serving Southern Nevada communities, and San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, the current owner of the Palms, contributed $25,000 of that total as a direct donation that supplemented the challenge proceeds.
Additional funds beyond the owner’s portion came from IGT’s involvement in supplying the machines and structuring the tournament format, which allowed multiple rounds of play that built the remaining balance, while representatives from the participating nonprofits attended the ceremony to receive recognition for their organizations’ upcoming programs funded by the donations.
Those managing the event confirmed that all 224 machines remained active during the challenge period, which created immediate revenue activity on the first day of operation and demonstrated how the enclosed design supports extended use without external interruptions, and the bar area opened simultaneously to provide integrated amenities that keep players within the non-smoking boundaries for longer periods.
Ownership and Operational Context
San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority oversees operations at the Palms following its acquisition, and the company’s $25,000 contribution formed the largest single pledge within the charity total, which aligned with similar support patterns observed at other properties under the same ownership group, while IGT supplied both the hardware and the tournament framework that enabled the Spin It Forward initiative to launch without delay.
Local gaming records indicate the expansion adds capacity in a segment of the market where demand for non-smoking options has grown, yet the Palms project stands as a self-contained development that does not reference broader industry shifts, and the ribbon-cutting itself served as the public debut for both the physical space and the charity component in one coordinated sequence.
Event Sequence and Guest Participation
Ceremony attendees moved through the new area after the ribbon was cut, with many trying the slot machines that had been configured specifically for teh charity challenge, and the 224 units operated under standard payout structures while entry fees from the Spin It Forward tournament accumulated separately for the nonprofit allocations, which meant every spin during the event contributed to the final $35,000 figure.
Staff from the Palms coordinated with IGT representatives to manage machine resets between rounds, ensuring continuous availability, and the dedicated bar provided refreshments that kept participants engaged without exiting the enclosed zone, which maintained the non-smoking integrity throughout the multi-hour event.
Data from the ceremony shows the $25,000 owner donation combined with challenge proceeds reached the reported total quickly, after which distribution to the 10 nonprofits occurred according to pre-established shares, and this structure allowed each organization to receive support for programs serving Southern Nevada residents without further delays.
Conclusion
The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Palms hotel-casino established both the physical non-smoking gaming expansion and the Spin It Forward charity mechanism in a single public event, with the 7,300-square-foot space now housing 224 IGT slot machines and its own bar while the associated challenge produced roughly $35,000 for local nonprofits including the $25,000 contribution from San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, and all elements of the project remain operational under current ownership. Review-Journal coverage documented the proceedings in detail, confirming the exact square footage, machine count, and donation breakdown without additional interpretation.