Smoking bans and Casinos

[JayJ79]

So Iowa, like many other states, instituted a state-wide smoking ban a while back. And I hear that Wisconsin is working on doing the same.

I personally couldn't care less, as I don't smoke, and I enjoy being in smoke-free locations. But on the other hand, I don't feel the need for there to be such widespread anti-smoking LAWS. If a place is too smoky for my liking, I just take my business elsewhere.

But anyway, what really bugs me is that while they ban smoking from pretty much all bars and restaurants and the like.... they give a free pass to CASINOS.

Now again, that doesn't personally affect me one way or the other, as I don't go to casinos either.
But it doesn't seem right why casinos are exempt from that ban while almost every place else has to abide by it.
All because the casino industry has sufficiently paid off the legislature enough that they are pretty much in their back pocket.

Ugh!

[AZGrizFan]

If I walk into a casino and it smells of smoke, I immediately walk back out.

[Cap'n Cat]

If I walk into a casino and it smells of smoke, I immediately walk back out.

Fuckin' right. I hate cigarette smoke.

The Wisconsin ban starts in July, '10.

[dbackjon]

In Arizona, the Casinos are exempt, because they are on the Rez's

[Wedgebuster]

In Arizona, the Casinos are exempt, because they are on the Rez's

Reservegas!

[HI54UNI]

So Iowa, like many other states, instituted a state-wide smoking ban a while back. And I hear that Wisconsin is working on doing the same.

I personally couldn't care less, as I don't smoke, and I enjoy being in smoke-free locations. But on the other hand, I don't feel the need for there to be such widespread anti-smoking LAWS. If a place is too smoky for my liking, I just take my business elsewhere.

But anyway, what really bugs me is that while they ban smoking from pretty much all bars and restaurants and the like.... they give a free pass to CASINOS.

Now again, that doesn't personally affect me one way or the other, as I don't go to casinos either.
But it doesn't seem right why casinos are exempt from that ban while almost every place else has to abide by it.
All because the casino industry has sufficiently paid off the legislature enough that they are pretty much in their back pocket.

Ugh!

The highlighted part is true plus in Iowa our legislature is addicted to gambling revenue so they can't do anything that might reduce it.

[AZGrizFan]

In Arizona, the Casinos are exempt, because they are on the Rez's

But several of them actually have "non-smoking" areas set aside...very nice.

[BlueHen86]

In Arizona, the Casinos are exempt, because they are on the Rez's

But several of them actually have "non-smoking" areas set aside...very nice.

And smart at the same time. Seems kind of obvious to me that all casinos should have both smoking and non-smoking areas.

[griz37]

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that the government can tell a business owner that he cannot allow smoking in his establishment. Imagine the outrage from this board if casinos were not allowed to serve beer.

[BlueHen86]

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that the government can tell a business owner that he cannot allow smoking in his establishment. Imagine the outrage from this board if casinos were not allowed to serve beer.

Good point. I don't smoke (I will have an occasional cigar), so I don't worry about it. But it does seem strange that the government can prohibit a business from allowing a legal activity.

[JayJ79]

But several of them actually have "non-smoking" areas set aside...very nice.

And smart at the same time. Seems kind of obvious to me that all casinos should have both smoking and non-smoking areas.

My point of contention is about the casinos being allowed to have smoking areas, where as other non-gambling establishments (such as bars) aren't allowed that option at all.

[clenz]

In Arizona, the Casinos are exempt, because they are on the Rez's

But several of them actually have "non-smoking" areas set aside...very nice.

Yes, and those areas are usually in the back or in some corner so that you have to walk through the smoke filled casino to get there. Then, they aren't block off at all, there is just a sign that says "Smoke Free Area". That doesn't stop the smoke from infiltrating that area like crabs at an orgy from the 70's. The smoke is going to go "OH SHIT, SMOKE FREE AREA SIGN, WE BETTER NOT CROSS THAT IMAGINARY LINE!"