Jump to full article: Quad-City (IA) Times, 2009-12-20
Intro: Now, nearly a year has passed, and two of our Quad-City casinos offer one useful way to measure the smoking exemption’s impact on gambling revenue. . . .
This year, with both facilities boasting new amenities and grand openings, we’ve seen revenue at smoke-free Jumer’s almost catch up with the Isle-Bettendorf. . . .
many other factors come in to play: Location, customer experiences, hotel amenities and entertainment. And that’s what we argued when Iowa lawmakers caved in and allowed the smoking exemption. Many factors influence a casino success.
Our figures affirm that Iowa cannot claim the smoking exemption among them.
Sadly, this fact from the Centers for Disease Control still remains: Secondhand smoke can harm anyone who inhales it, whether they work in a casino or a neighborhood tavern.
So Iowa lawmakers didn’t protect their precious casino revenue stream. They simply endangered workers and customers.
If Iowa lawmakers still insist on a smoking ban, drop the phony partial ban and apply it everywhere.
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