Dear CCO Readers
A lot of information has been going around regarding the recently overturned smoke-free air ordinance by the Indiana Supreme Court. There is one simple solution to all of this; pass a new smoke-free ordinance that includes the casino. Those who work in the smoky environment cannot afford another day of having their health put on the line for a paycheck. In an interview with Tropicana’s general manager Jason Gregorec said, “People have a choice to game or not and with this gamers like adult beverages and like to smoke.†This is an interesting statement considering that Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights says that studies show that 80% of casino patrons do not smoke. He goes on to say that allowing smoking is a “competitive advantage†over the Illinois casino. This is also hard to believe when 73% of Illinois voters support Illinois’s smokefree law that includes casinos, racetracks, and other gaming facilities according to “Commercial tobacco-free Illinois Frequency Questionnaire,†Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 1, 2008. Ohio Voters also approved smoke-free casinos in their state survey and Nate Forbes co-owner of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland said that one of the top two comments he has received about the casino is how people are so thankful for it being a completely smoke-free environment.
Gregorec also went on to say how he saw firsthand how the casino industry in Illinois was negatively affected after going smoke free in 2008. This is true but the state of the economy was more to blame and not the smoke free law. The Center for Policy Analysis (CFPA) conducted a survey in 2011 of reasons why Illinois patrons stopped going to the casinos as much and 40% said the cost of gasoline and 35% said it was because of the increased cost of living. Following the recession Illinois unemployment rate went from 6% to 12.4% and the cost of gasoline went up over a dollar a gallon. In this survey not a single person indicated that the smoking ban was the reason for gambling less frequently in Illinois.
Evansville has already proven that we accept the smoke free ordinance and want all workers to have the same chances when it comes to their health. There are more than 500 state-regulated gambling facilities across the United States that are required to be 100% smoke-free indoors. Tropicana needs to get with the times and show that they stand up for their workers and patrons by accepting that the future is smoke-free.
Sincerely,
Vanderburgh County Smoke Free Committee
 Upcoming Events.  Show your support!
The River Run
May 17, 6:30-8am
Red Banks Park, Henderson, KY
Evansville Streets Alive
May 18, 12-4
Garvin Park
Smokefree Evansville Coalition Meeting
May 20, 5:30 pm
Downtown Library
Relay for Life
June 14-15, 3pm-6am
Goebel Field
Previously a casino employee and a bartender/mangager at other venues in town, I have experienced working in a smoke filled environment first hand. I loved working in this fun, upbeat, busy environment but the smoke I was inhaling while working was just as bad on my health if I were a smoker…and I am not. I would like to go to the casino but I start sneezing immediately and get puffy/watery eyes when I walk in. Even if I’m there for 10 minutes my hair and clothing reek of cigarettes after I leave. Another hazard to consider is the MANY personal oxygen tanks people are using while gambling and while SMOKING. We all know this is extremely flammable, yet there seems to be no concern of the impending danger to other guests and employees.
Comments are closed.