Question of the Day - 15 June 2023

Isn’t Park MGM smoke free?

Indiana is still all smoking.  Some rude smokers even have one lit at the cashier's cage.  Ohio is non-smoking, but has built ample smoking half indoor/half outdoor type areas.  These areas stink real bad compared to the non smoking areas.

"Events took a turn in what most, even smokers, consider the wrong direction on May 23 when the City Council of Shreveport, Louisiana, voted 4-2 to bring smoking back to the city’s casinos."

Prove it, I've lived in Louisiana and have visited Shreveport many times.  You are completely ignorant of the culture of North Louisiana (Duck Dynasty/Religious Right/Pro-NRA) and have the unlimited gall, to repeatedly criticize (in other column) their elected officials.  You don't live there, probably couldn't locate the city on a map, yet have Leftist views, which are completely at odds with the region. If the issue bothers you, than skip North Louisiana! 

Use the gum or lozenges if you can't smoke a cigarette.

The Park MGM website still shows the casino, restaurants, etc., are no smoke. Did that change recently?

One in every ten thousand cigarettes is loaded with a dose of cyanide. I would call this new brand "Snuffs." You might say, why would smokers smoke these cigarettes if there was a one in ten thousand chance it would kill them instantly? I would reply, you don't understand smokers. Given the choice between death and not smoking, they would choose death.

Both the Soaring Eagle and Saganing Eagle in Michigan are non-smoking.   I don't know their bottom line, but both places are always busy.  It's so nice not having to smell the smoke, flick ashes or move dirty ash trays off of machines or sit next to a smoker at at a table game. 

Here you go - straight from Shreveport (or is this fake news?): 
https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2023/05/23/live-blog-casino-smoking-ban-hot-topic-at-shreveport-city-council/70223317007/

@gkbii

Thanks for making clear that the right to breathe clean air is yet another Leftist conspiracy. I had no idea. 

Apologies to the board for feeding the troll. I will refrain.

https://www.ksla.com/2023/05/23/shreveport-city-council-votes-repeal-smoking-ban-casinos/#:~:text=SHREVEPORT%2C%20La.,allowed%20in%20the%20other%2075%25.

https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/breaking/2023/06/01/shreveport-mayor-will-not-veto-repeal-of-casino-smoking-ban-ordinance/70278015007/

Yeah I used to live in LA for a bit- know where it is on the map- and 100% not surprised. Remember this area of the country wouldn't raise the drinking age after every other state had until they had lost billions of federal hwy dollars.  But wow some people have a pretty  quick trigger. 

I think its time for a dealer - likely someone that is close or recently retired (as they will likely be fired) to launch a class action lawsuit against both the casino company and the state of Nevada for endangering workers health.

The potential Windfall is huge. As in most class actions the lead plaintiff and the lawyers walk away with the lions share (MGM reference ?) of the cash but the potential to change the industry for the better is huge.

The Caesar’s casino in Windsor Ontario has been smoke free since it opened about 15 yrs ago. And Park MGM is smoke free. Just stayed there last week. 

over 30 years coming to Vegas, it has improved so much the past seems unbelievable. I remember tables where I was only nonsmoker and having to take a smoking room because there were so few nonsmoking rooms.  Just a matter of time before it's gone completely 

Clearly most people don't and don't wish to inhale smoke, yet they only allow 25 percent of the casino to be non smoking???
Let's hope the non smokers just don't visit that place, but i feel sorry for the employees who are stuck there.

I have not noticed any decrease in the gambling at Cherokee, NC, even with smokers having to take a break to go outside. It sure helps me stay inside longer. Before I used to have to go outside for air every now and then!

If casinos or any business lose more money on non-smokers than on smokers, they will change the rules. If consumers don't like smoking environments then don't frequent those businesses. It's pretty simple. If you would like casinos to be smoke free and you still go there to gamble when they are not smoke free, you are not part of the solution. Economics 101. It's called the power of the consumer.

I'm wondering about the statement, "Indeed, the politicians who most loudly decry problem gambling are the same ones likeliest to be in the pocket of the tobacco lobby," in the response, is a fact or an opinion? If it is fact, could you post a citing of the source or sources? 

Casinos are insisting upon the cut being deeper into the deck IE more cards are hidden/not used

The reason nonsmoking works in Illinois is that it's the law. No casino can allow smoking.  Since it's not the law in Nevada all casinos would have to agree. Not gonna happen. 

Inform yourself before you talk about class action lawsuits.  Your comment is pitiful 

In the 1950's and 60's my mother directed duplicate bridge tournaments, which IIRC were smokier than any casino nowadays. Back then smoking was a part of the culture, and nobody thought much about it. Most of us who grew up in that era got plenty of second-hand.
My father was a PhD biochemist and medical school professor. If anyone knew the dangers, he did; and for forty years he smoked two packs a day, right down to the filters. He did cut way back after the femoral artery graft, though.
The good news is that smoking has been on the decline in the United States for many years, and there's every indication that that trend will continue. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to ban it.
FWIW, my three favorite Nevada poker rooms have been nonsmoking for years: Orleans, South Point, and Harrah's Laughlin.
And to Kevin: cigarette smoke already contains hydrogen cyanide, along with a couple thousand other harmful substances; just not enough to kill you immediately. 

Also bear in mind that in most cases, gaming floors in commercial casinos are one of the few operations that are exempted from clean-indoor-air laws that apply to every other workplace and buildings open to the public. Why should all customers and workers on a gaming floor be exposed to cancer-causing chemicals when people in all other offices, stores, restaurants, etc. -- even those inside a casino property -- are not? Many cities and states ban smoking in outdoor stadiums and other venues, but exempt gaming floors. Casinos claim they'll lose money, but recent studies have proven that to be false. And all the wailing and gnashing of teeth ignores the fact that many smokers have adapted willingly to having to smoke outside. For an elaboration, see this (a well-written commentary, if I do say so myself): 
https://cdcgaming.com/commentary/a-slot-players-wisdom-i-dont-smoke-in-my-own-home/
 

Let the owners of the casinos decide. People who don't like it don't have to go there. We don't need government to decide for us.

That being said, owners should look carefully at the benefits of choosing to go non smoking. Many non smokers don't go to smoking casinos because of the smoke. I think too many owners believe they have to have smoking without actually having good data. It took COVID smoking bans for some to see that many prefer non smoking. Non smoking casinos are also a lot cleaner -- and easier to keep clean.

Even in smoking casinos, it's not hard to see that far fewer patrons are smoking than in years past.

Lots of people have jobs and can't attend city council meetings. City councils should base their vote on the community, not on the whims of the retirees, busybodies, and gadflies who are way overrepresented at these meetings.

'Indeed, the politicians who most loudly decry problem gambling are the same ones likeliest to be in the pocket of the tobacco' 

Yep.

But. But. But, I thought politicians were all there to serve the best interests of the public listening to the silly banter of so many naïve herd members arguing their bought off side is the better? Laughable as always how many still don't get it.  

The system is bought and sold and self-serving is so beyond obvious at this point except lots still don't appear to get it. Complain all you want about the smoke in casinos, health aspects, no one cares what you say. Talk to a rock about it, scream to the sky, might make you feel better. And lots of you vote the same in BOTH parties, people, who keep it this way so perhaps some of you can start yelling at the reflection in the mirror about the casino smoke to see who the primary problem is in the end on matters like this, the reflection of the average voter.  

Smoking is one of the most foolish habits people have! Also, many smokers are rude and don't care if their smoking bothers others...cigars are particularly awful smelling. I believe banning smoking would bring more gamblers into the casino. I love playing video poker, but have reduced my casino visits because of the smoke!