Casino Smoking Coming Under Scrutiny
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s one of the last bastions of indoor smoking, and one metro group is pushing to make casino floors a more healthy place.
According to a report in the Kansas City Star, representatives with Clean Air Metro KC have been meeting with metro casino representatives and elected officials to try and gather support for changing local and state laws that allow smoking on casino gaming floors.
“I don’t think people realize casinos still allow smoking. We want to get it on the radar,” said Joyce Morrison, spokeswoman for Clean Air Metro KC – a loose coalition that includes the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association of Kansas, and county health departments – told The Star.
Casino industry group, the American Gaming Association, isn’t sure that banning smoking from casino floors would be a popular move, noting that cash-strapped states may be reluctant to pass any laws that could potentially hurt the revenue states receive from casinos.
“My own sense is these (anti-smoking) movements have lost steam,” AGA spokesperson Judy Patterson told The Star.
Casino smoking will be the focus of a workshop on Monday as part of the annual National Conference on Tobacco or Health, being held this week in Kansas City.
