New Study Reveals People Want Smoke Free Casino In Mississippi

The people that participated in the recent Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau may have responded to a tourism question, but they may have been speaking for themselves as well.

The Bureau conducted a study on what should become a new tourist destination and the majority of those that took part in the study agreed. A smoke free casino was at the top of the list.

The smoking debate for casinos has heated up in the past year. "Extreme Right Wing conservatives who do not adjust well to change believe that the decision to go smoke free should be left in the hands of individual business owners, regardless of the health issues that could arise from second hand smoke," said Peter Luptsky.

On the other side of the smoking battle are concerned citizens, who have successfully had laws changed in many states to ban smoking in public places. Casinos fall into that list of public places, but in some states they have received special treatment from lawmakers.

Atlantic City casinos recently had a smoking ban started and halted in less than a month. The casino owners complained that the ban was hurting their revenue, so the city quickly reacted to their pleas for a suspension of the smoking ban.

Smoke free casinos are becoming more prevalent around the country. Nevada had their first smoke free casino opened at the beginning of November, and the owners have gone on record as saying their revenue has met expectations so far.

The study in Mississippi suggests that many people are adapting to the idea of smoke free casinos. Despite the study, the officials do not believe it will trigger a smoking ban proposal in the state.

December 28, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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