BY DAVE PARRO
With a statewide smoking ban set to go into effect Jan. 1, Illinois' casinos are lobbying lawmakers for an exemption.
The casinos claim the ban will cost them $144 million a year, about 20 percent of their annual take. They each stand to lose more money than most bars and restaurants if the smoking ban drives away business, but is there really a good reason why smoking should still be allowed there? Does the fact that gambling goes on there subject casinos to lower standards?
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, says he'll also settle for a repeal of the smoking ban for five years for casinos or until gaming facilities in border states also snuff out smoking. That may be the only valid argument for not subjecting the state's casinos to a ban, at least not yet; because the competition for business is regional, gamblers might go to Indiana or another state if they can smoke there but not in Illinois.
Just in time for this debate, however, the American Lung Association of Illinois has released a study about casino air quality. After sampling the air in an East St. Louis casino over two three-hour visits last month, the report makes this conclusion:
Despite the expensive, state-of-the-art, ventilation system installed at this casino, employees and patrons are exposed to harmful levels of fine particle air pollution as a result of indoor smoking. The only way to eliminate the health risks of tobacco smoke pollution exposure is to prohibit indoor smoking.
The gaming floor was particularly bad, with employees and patrons there exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 24-hour standards for fine particle air pollution exposure after 3 hours and 28 minutes. Read the American Lung Association press release here.
Hollywood Casino plans to build outdoor shelters along the river for its smoking guests. That's one way to solve the problem, but should every bar and restaurant be allowed to build special structures just for smokers? Again, what makes casinos so special? Because they make so much money and generate so many tax dollars?
If this issue is first and foremost about saving lives, then casinos should not be exempt. It's time to stop putting business interests and profit ahead of public health.
Did you know that Hollywood Casino has a "no-smoking" section? Yeah, it's about four slot machines in a far corner of the casino, and one has to walk through the rest of the nasty, smoky casino to get to it! I've only been there once, and I will not return until the smoking ban goes into effect for ALL businesses. Don't they want their customers alive and healthy so they can go out and spend money?
I dont't go to the casinos because I am allergic to smoking. What the casinos don't realize is that smokers will still gamble and non-smokers will now come to the casinos. They and the state will probably double their take. Do the math.
I would go to the casino more if there wasn't so much smoke. I am not allergic, but the stench and lack of fresh air is repulsive. The ventilation system is not doing enough to clean the air. I hope that they do not get an exemption.
Oh Please!!! Gamblers will continue to flock to the Casinos.Do you think they will get a Ticket on the next flight to 'Vegas just so they can smoke in a Casino?If they receive an Exemption every tavern and Restaurant Owner in the State should file Charges and sue the State.No one needs to pump smoke into their lungs 24/7,they can take a much needed break and go have a cigarette at an off site Smoking Chamber (which the Casino will gladly build) hey they may even provide transportation to the site.Perhaps during that smoking break the compulsive gambler will have time to re-think their addiction and go home!
Let the casino remain smoker-friendly. It will be a great experience to take the kids over there and show them the show them the old folks who sit there puffing on ciggarrettes while there O2's flowing! Seriously though, the casino is disgusting to be in, and I smoke! I guess I'm one of those weird smokers who is in support of public smoking bans. Some smokers don't exercise any kind of "ettique" when out in public. Nothings grosser than sitting in a restaraunt, eating, and having someone lite up next to you. I feel as a smoker I should respect the feelings of people who don't participate in the unhealthy habit.
I am a smoker, and the comment do you think people will really go to vegas instead. Yes, I have already booked. I would rather save my money go to vegas where you can gamble and smoke in the casinos. The Elgin has a downstair none smoking area, why not make that smoking and all the non smokers can stay upstairs. The government should not be sticking there nose in personal business and leave it to the owners of the casinos. I understand non smokers have rights, but they can go to areas without smoking.