Massachusetts Senate Gambling With Lives With Smoking Concession

The Massachusetts Senate spent the majority of the day on Wednesday debating a bill that would bring full-scale casino resorts to the state. Part of the legislation, however, would allow for smoking in twenty-five percent of the casinos' gaming area.

Massachusetts lawmakers approved a law back in 2004 that banned smoking in bars, restaurants, and all workplaces. The law was intended to save the lives of millions of non-smokers who were being negatively affected by second-hand smoke. Bar and restaurant employees were among those who were most affected.

Now, with the gambling issue taking center stage, the House and the Senate must decide if there is a proper amount of smoking that should be taking place in the casinos. The casinos are expected to bring in millions of dollars in revenue for the state, and a full smoking ban may discourage potential developers.

"I think that there is no way they can pass a gaming law without allowing at least designated areas where smoking will be allowed on the gaming floor," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "Many gamblers also smoke and drink alcohol, so there is going to need to be some compromise."

There are models from other states that have passed smoking bans only to exclude casinos. The amount of revenue potential of the casinos has often overshadowed lawmakers' desire to rid their states of smoking in public. The issue of smoking in casinos has created a heated debate in many states.

In other gaming news in the Northeast on Wednesday, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri has vetoed a bill that would have allowed voters in Rhode Island to decide whether or not to authorize full-fledged casino gambling.Carcieri feels that more research must be done before the issue can be brought to the public for a vote.

Among the details Carcieri would like to see worked out, are how to use the revenue from the casinos. The governor understands that Rhode Island lawmakers must move quickly because of how fast the industry is growing in neighboring states, but he believes lawmakers must not move hastily in developing their gaming expansion plan.

June 23, 2010
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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