Published on: January 3, 2025, 05:41h.
Last updated on: January 3, 2025, 05:48h.
Smokers are well aware that smoke detectors in Las Vegas hotel rooms are now highly advanced and cannot be deceived by sneaking puffs in the bathroom. Vape users, whose devices emit significantly less particulates than cigarettes, are now facing similar challenges.
Vape detectors are highly sensitive devices designed to scan the air for specific chemical signatures of tobacco and cannabis vape smoke.
“Learn from my mistakes,” posted @HistorianJolly8683 to Reddit on Thursday. “In a smoking casino, I thought hitting a vape in the hotel room wouldn’t matter.”
The anonymous redditor, who identified the hotel as a Las Vegas casino resort operated by Golden Entertainment, shared that vaping led to a $400 charge. (The only casino resorts operated by Golden Entertainment in Las Vegas are the Strat and Arizona Charlie’s.)
“When I asked what it was for, they let me know they have detectors now that sense vapor in the air and even had TIMESTAMPS as to when it went off.”
The complainant mentioned that he should have been informed explicitly in advance about the existence of these devices.
Upon reaching out to Golden Entertainment for comment, the response from the company was that “the $400 figure doesn’t align with Arizona Charlie’s or The STRAT.”
Common Sensor
The most popular type of vape detector is known as the Halo Smart Sensor. This device, manufactured by IPVideo, constantly monitors the air for minute traces of tobacco and THC.
“Contact us to help put a stop to vaping in your building today,” its website advertises.
The Halo also eavesdrops on guests, providing “sound detection of abnormalities like gunshots and shouting in areas where a camera cannot be placed,” according to the website.
In a guide to hotel vape detectors, security company Avigiolon — which integrates the Halo into its security systems — highlights one of the key advantages of installing the devices in hotels as “increased revenue.”
“By utilizing vape detectors, hotels are able to identify more vaping and smoking offenses and issue more fines to guests that violate these policies,” the website states.
Like other intrusive technologies, this one is likely here to stay, unless a successful lawsuit is filed by a law firm specializing in data privacy and consumer rights.
In the same Reddit thread, user @710savannah mentioned: “I used to work at an OYO (a dumpppp) and even we had this kind of technology. We had it behind the TVs, and it would go off even if someone sprayed hairspray, lit a candle, lit a match, ANYTHING, it collects the amount of non air material in the air, and we get reports on it.”