Casinos Use Threatening Words To Keep Smoking In Louisiana

Lawmakers in the state of Louisiana are attempting to include casinos in current laws that prohibit smoking in restaurants. Bars and casinos are currently exempted from the law, State representative Gary Smith does not believe the law is fair to restaurant owners.

"These businesses compete with each other, and we need a level playing field," said Smith, "We've already drawn a line in the sand, and now we're going to make in even across the board for all of the individuals in the service industry."

That is one side of the argument. Casinos, however, are painting a much different picture. They are using the economy as a rallying cry to keep the dangerous smoke-filled-air a part of their daily operations.

"What we anticipate is a twenty percent reduction in revenue if this smoking ban passes. If we lose twenty percent of our revenue, or even fifteen percent, that means people are going to get paid off," said Boomtown Casino spokesman Charles Frederick.

Worker unemployment. It is the great equalizer for casinos. The gambling establishments are a solid form of employment around the US, and with the economy in the dumps, the job security at casinos becomes a valuable asset. The casinos are using that fact to their fullest advantage.

"The State police get $52 million a year from riverboat casinos," said Frederick, "Take twenty percent from that and tell me how many state troopers are going to get laid off?"

That is Frederick trying to hammer home the point that smoking is necessary for business by using the men in blue to rally lawmakers. Some, however, are not fooled by the scary language.

"So what Frederick is saying is that it is more important that a couple of officers keep their jobs rather than a couple of employees at these casinos keep their lives," said smoking ban advocate Francis Huber, "it seems to me that life would be more important than employment."

The battle now continues in the legislature, with lawmakers arguing on both sides of the issue. It is a tough debate, revenue that creates jobs versus public health. It is a debate that other states have had, and the outcome in most cases has been to save the lives before the jobs.

June 8, 2009
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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