L’Auberge casino concerned about Baton Rouge smoking ban

Executives at L’Auberge Hotel & Casino parent company are not happy with the Smoke-free East Baton Rouge campaign in Louisiana.

US.- Pinnacle Entertainment’s executives are concerned with the Smoke-free East Baton Rouge campaign which may result in an ordinance that bans smoking in bars and casinos.

Pinnacle Entertainment argues that L’Auberge Hotel & Casino will be at a competitive disadvantage to its regional competitors in Lake Charles and Mississippi if the Metro Council passes the ordinance.

Troy Stremming, executive vice president of governmental relations and public affairs for Pinnacle Entertainment, explains that if Baton Rouge casino could lose business to casinos in Lake Charles and Biloxi, Mississippi, which are not under similar bans, the city receives less sales tax proceeds for its coffers. Currently and according to monthly winnings reports, L’Auberge pulls in more winnings than its two Baton Rouge competitors, Hollywood Casino and The Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel and Casino combined.

The ordinance will be introduced today (Wednesday) and will come back for a public hearing and vote on April 13. Polling data provided by Smoke-free EBR suggests support exists for the ban across all racial and demographic groups in the parish, with about 70 percent of parish residents supporting the ban.