Smoking Ban Issue Regarding Nevada Casinos Debated On Wednesday

A law in any particular jurisdiction is only as strong as the lobbyists that are pushing for or against it. In Nevada, residents have voted in favor of a smoking ban for casinos, but lawmakers may overturn that decision.

Casino owners have started to complain about the smoking ban, claiming that it is hurting business. The Clean Indoor Air Act was passed in 2006, but the smoking public and the casino owners will not let the issue die.

The casinos claim that it is the smoking ban that is hurting their business and causing revenue decreases. Proponents of the smoking ban, however, believe the economy, and not the smoking ban, is to blame.

"This is a business that preys on people's weaknesses," said observer Mandy Watson, "smoking and gambling have always gone hand in hand, but to say that without the smoking casinos cannot survive, that's just ridiculous."

The Assembly Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Wednesday in which people from both sides of the issue voiced their concerns. At least one member of the Committee, Chairman Bernie Anderson, understood where the people in favor of the smoking ban was coming from.

"I appreciate the point you make, that people who are working in those establishments have to have employment, and as a result are subjected to second-hand smoke," said Anderson, when responding to a smoking ban proponent.

Nevada casinos are in the worst revenue slump ever, and there are may different reasons why. People are struggling financially, and others now have casinos in their home states that they can go to. The lure of Nevada for gaming is not as strong as it once was.

May 14, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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