Casino Anti-Smoking Effort Launched In Kansas, MissouriLegislators May Be Introducing New Bills |
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After efforts in 2023 failed to enact stricter anti-smoking regulations in New Jersey casinos, legislators in Missouri and Kansas may be set to tackle the issue in the new year.
Both states kick off legislative sessions in January and representatives from Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) plan on working with legislators in both states to introduce anti-smoking bills. Some employees at casinos in the states are hoping the efforts lead to changes.
“No one should have to work in secondhand smoke,” casino employee and CEASE founder Joseph Hafley told KTVI. Doesn’t matter if you are like security, EVS (environmental services), bartenders, anything like that. No one should have to deal with breathing that in, in order to make a paycheck.”
Hafley added that “85% of Kansans and Missourians do not smoke, but (casinos) cater to the 15% that do, which doesn’t make any sense.”
Efforts Receive Pushback
Kansas has four commercial casinos, but those are exempt from a 2010 clean air act that banned indoor smoking. Missouri has a similar law that bans most smoking, with properties still allowed to designate 30% of public space for smokers. However, for casinos that increases to as much as 50% of casino gaming space.
A potential smoking ban would not affect tribal properties.
While a ban has received support among some workers, gaming companies, some gamblers, and even other casino employees and unions have pushed back against anti-smoking efforts claiming that it hurts betting numbers.
Penn Entertainment operates casinos in both states and reacted to the efforts by noting the company’s smoke mitigation efforts.
“As members of the hospitality industry, we seek to accommodate the needs of both our smoking and non-smoking patrons using state-of-the-art ventilation systems, extremely high ceilings, and through adequate separation of smoking and non-smoking areas,” Penn Entertainment Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations Jeff Morris said in a statement.
“The real power at the end of the day on this issue rests with our customers who can vote with their pocketbooks if they feel like we’re not doing a good enough job catering to their needs. It’s a balance and one that we feel the marketplace should determine, particularly in such a competitive environment with other gaming facilities nearby and in neighboring states.”
Issue Split New Jersey Casino Unions
In New Jersey, legislators couldn’t reach an agreement in 2023 over a complete ban, where state law allows smoking on only 25% of the casino floor. In September, the state’s supreme court rejected a lawsuit by casino anti-smoking backers to get that overturned.
The state’s unions have been split on the issue as well, and some see a ban as hurting the casinos and possibly costing employees jobs. That could come as live casino revenue has dipped in recent months.
Unite Here Local 54 President Donna DeCaprio has been a vocal opponent of casino smoking bans. A competing union head recently called for her resignation over the issue.
“She should be ashamed of herself. She should hand in her union card,” assistant director of United Auto Workers Region 9 Ray Jensen told the Associated Press. The union represents dealers at three Atlantic City casinos.
DeCaprio responded by noting: “A balance needs to be reached that will both protect worker health and preserve good jobs.”
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