C
ynthia Hallett, president, and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights sent a two-page letter on Thursday to American Gaming Association President and CEO Bill Miller, explaining that the California-based organization is asking that casino operators only take taxpayer dollars if they agree to adopt a smoke-free indoor policy.
The nonprofit lobbying organization said smoking increases the spread of COVID-19 and endangers casino employees and other patrons, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
A spokesman for the AGA said the association would have no comment on the letter. The organization’s board of directors is scheduled to meet virtually on Friday.
NEW: “No federal COVID relief for casinos unless they go smokefree, advocates say in letter to @AmericanGaming“
As @caitlinoprysko just reported, our letter to @BillMillerAGA says it makes no sense to take COVID relief $ while permitting an activity that promotes COVID’s spread pic.twitter.com/5Vc5bIU5LC
— Smokefree Casinos (@CasinoSmokefree) December 3, 2020
In the letter, Hallett cited Park MGM’s recent decision to ban smoking — the first major Las Vegas resort to do so — and said more than 1,000 casinos across the country, many of them tribal operations, have indoor no-smoking policies.
Casinos that haven’t implemented smoking bans have said they fear a drop in revenue if smokers were banned from their properties. But Hallett said that’s been disproven in several states.
“In states with permanent smoke-free policies, such as Maryland and Ohio, the industry is experiencing year-over-year revenue increases, despite operating at reduced capacity,” the letter said.
“Casinos in states that were forced to abide by a state-imposed, temporary smoke-free policy in order to reopen, such as Pennsylvania, have seen revenues remain relatively stable compared to the previous year, especially considering they have been operating at significantly reduced capacity, and the smoke-free policy has helped to keep 99 percent of gaming employees COVID-free.”
The Nevada Resort Association, which represents more than 70 companies statewide, said its members already are in compliance with the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act and offer a range of non-smoking amenities.
“Our members cater to the diversity of our guests’ preferences by offering both non-smoking and smoking environments where allowed by law,” an association spokeswoman said in an email.
“The resort industry has always placed a high priority on air quality and has invested heavily in advanced technology throughout their properties that circulates fresh air and removes smoke and odors. As part of their ongoing assessment of the latest health and safety protocols, they have reviewed their (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems and have enacted additional measures to maximize the exchange of fresh air and have increased the frequency of air filter replacement and system cleaning.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international//noticias/2020/12/04/55689-california-based-organization-calls-on-aga-to-adopt-casino-smoking-bans
