Opposition to smoke-free zones in casinos
Bill that requires casinos to offer non-smoking areas is met with resistance
A bill that requires casinos to offer non-smoking areas ran into serious opposition last week.
Assembly Bill 159, sponsored by Assemblyman Bob Price, would require casinos to set aside non-smoking areas where gamblers can play games without breathing second-hand smoke. Although the measure does not specify the size of the area or order any ventilation requirements, gaming lobbyists objected, citing statistics that up to 60 percent of gamblers are also smokers. In Nevada in particular, the percentage of smokers is extremely high – in fact it is the highest across the nation – with 33 percent of adults smoking.
Harvey Whittemore, a lobbyist representing the Nevada Resort Association and tobacco giant RJ Reynolds, was adamantly against the proposed bill. He said that the state would lose a great deal of revenue if casinos were forced to create smoke-free areas. "I don't think it's incumbent on us to tell the state's largest businesses how to run their operations," said Whittemore.
Price claimed he sponsored the bill in part because of a fear that casinos could be held liable to lawsuits brought by non-smoking patrons and employees. Numerous health officials testified in support of the bill, citing statistics about the dangers of second-hand smoke. Although Lawrence Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association, was in favor of smoke-free zones in principle, he felt the measure would be harmful to smaller casinos and convenience stores, neither of which have the space to create non-smoking areas.
Deborah Sheltra, owner of a small grocery store with 12 slot machines in Reno concurred with him, explaining that the bill would put her out of business. "If this were passed it would force me to have a non-smoking store." Sheltra said. "None of my gamers are non-smoking." Sheltra said approximately 50 percent of her net income comes from the slot machines and she could not afford to run her store without them.
Committee Chairman Bernie Anderson proposed drafting a subcommittee to discuss an amendment to the bill for smaller casinos and convenience stores. However, it appears that there is little support for his proposal.
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