A prominent anti-smoking group is calling for a complete ban on cigarette smoking in casinos and is framing the issue as an element of responsible gaming. Late last week, the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) penned an open letter to lawmakers challenging the common understanding of how effective smoke filters are and whether smoking should be allowed on any casino floor.
In the letter, which was sent to lawmakers from Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia, ANR suggests that smoking bans are antihithetical to responsible game play saying, “Allowing smoking on gaming floors not only poses significant health risks to workers and patrons alike, but it also encourages prolonged gambling sessions without breaks – a fundamental tenet of responsible play.”
Nevada Congresswoman Diane Titus, one of the recipients of ANR’s letter, defended her local gaming industry’s efforts to control casino smoke in comments reported on by iGaming Business saying, “This is something that the state legislature has looked at off and on, and again, you find the industry regulating itself,” Titus said. “If you go practically anywhere on the Strip with all the new casinos, they have the very latest technology. It’s not the low-ceiling, old-time places that are so smoky that you find a few left downtown, but they’ve done a pretty good job.”
ANR ended their letter on an optimistic note saying, “ANR welcomes the opportunity to meet with the Commission to discuss how a smokefree environment can support and enhance responsible gaming practices. Ending indoor smoking will not only safeguard the health of patrons and employees, but also foster a more responsible and sustainable gaming environment for all.” But whether or not any casino operator or lawmaker will take any additional action remains to be seen.