Detroit Casinos Claim Gambling Will Be Down With Smoking Ban

Casinos in Detroit, Michigan must not have had to deliberate long to come up with a stance against a new smoking ban proposal in the state. They just called on an old reliable argument, the type that is used mainly for keeping casinos out of an area.

Michigan lawmakers are considering a smoking ban throughout the state that would include all indoor facilities. In some states, casinos have been exempt from these type of bans, but in Michigan, that exemption may not come to fruition.

The issue has put casinos in Michigan in a precarious situation. They must use the same tactics that are used by anti-gambling groups to attempt to persuade public opinion. Stale arguments have been used all across the country regarding the negative effects that casinos can have on an area.

In Michigan, casinos have chosen to use the argument that a smoking ban will drive away customers. It is the same argument that has been tried, in most cases unsuccessfully, in other states where smoking bans were being adopted. Atlantic City casinos, however, did convince the city council that a smoking ban should be delayed.

"I think a smoking ban would be a disservice to the city and state that would lose tens of millions in tax revenue from customers leaving the state," said Randy Fine, Chief Executive of Greektown Casino-Hotel, as reported by The Detroit News.

The casinos understand that Michigan derives a lot of revenue from their operations, and during these tough economic times, the threat of decreased revenue is always a good tactical ploy to be used against state lawmakers.

Up until now, however, the lawmakers have not budged from their stance. The recent approval of casinos for Ohio may soon chance that stance. Th threat is there for Michigan residents to leave the state to gamble, and the casinos plan may be to continue to exploit that possibility to keep smoking in their establishments.

December 5, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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