Iowa Considers Casino Smoking Ban
Tuesday December 12, 2006
Iowa lawmakers are considering bans on smoking that would include casinos. Rep. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, has co-sponsored two bills - one that would ban smoking in all public places statewide, and another that would leave it to local governments to decide. She said the health implications of smoking demand action.
Casino operators say a smoking ban could cripple their bottom line by pushing away a prolific and generally high-paying customer class. Many casinos are pushing for other alternatives to the ban. Some casinos, including Dubuque's Greyhound Park & Casino, have installed air ventilators to appease the anti-smoking advocates. This will be a hot topic in the upcoming year, not just in Iowa but in all around the country.
In November Nevada voters approved a bill that would ban smoking in bars that served food and some proponents are looking toward the casinos as their next target of a smoking ban.
Comments
YES! This is a no brainer! And especially if there is no specially installed air filter that can handle the smoke. I’ve been in the Greyhound Park Casino & the air filters work well…UNTIL it gets busy. Then my eyes & throat burn so badly that I have to leave. And, the place stinks like old cigarettes even at opening time. Another option would be to have a smoking area where smokers could smoke & gamble…away from the main gaming areas. Tama has this & I found the casino quite comfortable. The riverboats, on the other hand, are horribly smoky & I won’t even go to them.
IM A Bar owner, and i feel that a smoking ban has to be for EVERY ONE INCLUING CAsinos!!! ban one ban ALL!!! not just bars that is NOT right!! and if you don’t then well know you are taking A BRIBE !!!! forsure!!!from casinos!!!!!!?