Stuck In The Past

Whether its hard sparring or smoke-free casinos, old school thinking is getting in the way of progress.

Few people have wilder stories than someone who trained in martial arts in the 1970s or 1980s. It was an era of blood and guts, with Spartan-like training that would likely land the instructor in handcuffs in 2025.

Hard sparring was mandatory, training was done on concrete floors (with a thin layer of carpeting if you were lucky), and concussions (along with other injuries) were seen as badges of honor.

Yes, it produced some tough-as-nails fighters (and some very entertaining stories), but it also left them with lasting damage and drove away or burned out many people who would have benefited from martial arts training.

Furthermore, most of it was unnecessary and counterproductive.

Modern training, with padded mats, protective equipment, and limited head contact, prioritizes longevity and brain health, without sacrificing skill development. And there’s data to back this up: a 2018 study in Neurology found that repeated head trauma in combat sports correlates with higher risks of CTE, while safer sparring protocols reduce those risks without diminishing skill level.

As the science becomes clearer, even the best-of-the-best MMA fighters are shifting to sparring with limited head contact (or none at all).

But here’s the thing: a lot of people out there are still stuck in the old ways.

Martial arts schools and MMA academies embracing modern methods pack classes, while old-school gyms, clinging to the notion that “tougher is better,” limp along with a dwindling number of diehard students. The old-school mentality cannot comprehend how a more relaxed environment fosters a tougher (both physically and mentally) individual. It does not compute. Nor can they wrap their heads around why anyone would choose the “easy” path. They scoff at the thriving school across town, insisting their ways are superior.

A similar form of cognitive dissonance is evident in the world of land-based casinos. Old school thinking has casinos fearful of online gambling options, or even going smoke-free.

Ignoring the Evidence

In a world where every indoor space is smoke-free, casinos continue to be a couple of decades behind the times, despite evidence to the contrary and customers all but screaming their preferences.

• The American Lung Association (ALA) notes that secondhand smoke in casinos poses serious health risks, driving away younger, health-conscious patrons.

• ALA analysis of CDC data found 11.6% of Americans were regular cigarette smokers in 2022, down from 42.6% in 1966 and 19.3% in 2010.

• Axios reports, “In the last three years, around 6% of people under 30 say they’ve smoked cigarettes in the past week — compared to 35% in the early 2000s.”

• A C3 Gaming report concluded that “data from multiple jurisdictions clearly indicates that banning smoking no longer causes a dramatic drop in gaming revenue. In fact, non-smoking properties appear to be performing better than their counterparts that continue to allow smoking.”

• Based on a 2024 poll from the Nevada Tobacco Control and Smoke-Free Coalition, more than two-thirds of 800 registered Nevada voters now favor smoke-free casino policies.

• New Jersey polling found 83% of voters support legislation to make all workplaces in New Jersey, including casinos, smoke-free. 79% say they would be more likely to visit a casino if it were 100% smoke-free indoors; that number jumps to 81% among current casino-goers.

• Anecdotal evidence from Las Vegas Weekly: Former smoker Chris Nelson, upon learning Park MGM is smoke-free: “A smoking ban? Cool! I quit four years ago.” Amy Chamberlain of California “wouldn’t even consider” staying elsewhere

I also found this survey of BCSlots fan club members conducted by casino influencer Brian Christopher, quite compelling [bold mine]:

• 78% say now is the time to make all casinos smoke-free;

• 88% of the smokers say they would patronize non-smoking casinos that offer an outdoor area with slot machines where smoking is allowed;

• 94% of respondents believe secondhand smoke is harmful to health;

• 94% of frequent gamblers prefer smoke-free indoor air casinos, including 88% of those who smoke; and

• Among higher-income frequent gamblers, a higher percentage are nonsmokers.

[Fingers in the Ears] “La, la, la, la, la, la, la”

Despite the evidence, some operators are doubling down, refusing to change and fighting to keep the status quo. It’s a great strategy if your goal is alienating customers who want cleaner air and modern options. Sadly, at least for the present, that point of view is prevailing.