Group pushes for casino smoking ban
An anti-smoking group is making another push to get smoking banned at US casinos.
US.- June was a record month for many states in terms of casino revenue, and that’s given more fuel to calls for a smoking ban from Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, a California-based anti-smoking advocacy group.
Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights President and CEO Cynthia Hallett said: “Another record-breaking revenue month in Atlantic City — while casinos operated smoke-free — offers the latest evidence that smoke-free is good for business.
“Industry arguments for indoor smoking, even in the year 2021, have lost credibility. It’s time for Gov. (Phil) Murphy and Senate President (Stephen) Sweeney to act to finally close the casino loophole so that workers and guests are not forced to breathe harmful secondhand smoke. No one should have to choose between a job and a paycheck.”
The anti-smoking group considers that a smoking ban may result in an initial dip in revenue for casinos but that revenue would soon increase to previous levels. They say that’s been demonstrated in figures from New Jersey where smoking was banned at casinos during the Covid-19 pandemic.
