http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/casinos.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080514_Editorial__Smoking_Restrictions.html http://tobacco.org/news/265366.html It's a good thing Gov. Rendell threatened to veto a weak statewide smoke-free law that would undercut the strong antismoking health measure already in place in Philadelphia. In doing so, Rendell stood up for the best smoke-free law that Pennsylvania likely will ever see - one that protects 1.4 million Philadelphians and countless visitors to the state's largest city. . . . As the legislature has fiddled for months over a smoke-free law, it has become clear that the General Assembly leaders' main interest is doing the bidding of cigarette companies - not protecting public health. They've even tried to justify lax, one-size-fits-all statewide standards on grounds that smokers would be confused if one town had tougher rules than the next. That's absurd. Of course, there's an easy way to pass a real statewide smoke-law: Just copy the city's law. The governor has sounded the alarm. Now, Mayor Nutter should join him and others like Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D., Phila.) in rallying the city's Harrisburg delegation to not only protect Philadelphia's smoke-free law, but make it the state model. Philadelphia Inquirer Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/COL04/805140321/1001/news http://tobacco.org/news/265365.html The bill passed by a 25-12 vote, and with the Democratic House already on record in support of a similar measure, the ban seemed destined for the desk of Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who has promised to sign it. The Senate's poison pill But of course, it's not that simple. State Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, who chairs the House Detroit caucus, joined with most of his Democratic colleagues in supporting the House's smoking ban, which -- unlike the Senate version -- exempted Detroit's casinos. Now Johnson is worried that Detroit's casinos will lay off workers if the Senate's broader bill prevails. He says he'll withdraw his support for a smoking ban unless the exemption for his city's casinos is restored. Problem is, the Senate's GOP leaders insist they have no plans to revisit the issue if House members fail to adopt the Senate's bill as is. "If you want a smoking ban in Michigan, you're going to have a smoking ban in Michigan," Senate GOP spokesman Matt Marsden told the MIRS news service this week. "You're not going to have special carve-out islands that benefit the Democratic Party." Detroit Free Press bdickerson@freepress.com (RIAN DICKERSON * FREE PRESS COLUMNIST * May 14, 2008) Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/OPINION02/805130331 http://tobacco.org/news/265276.html Last year, 56 members of the House decided that the comfort and convenience of smokers did not outweigh the interests of public health and economic growth. If those same representatives change their vote now, it will be because they have prostituted themselves to the sacred gods of the slots. The House can with one vote remind us that they are our representatives and not casino employees. Those who previously supported the bill must not bend. Those who opposed it can follow the wise words of Sen. Bruce Patterson, R-Canton Township, who had previously opposed a public smoking ban but changed his mind in light of the evidence before him. "I'm now on the right side of this issue," he said. Time for all of Michigan to get there, too. Detroit Free Press Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://portmacquarie.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/smoking-ban-forces-a-rethink-for-clubs-pubs/767911.aspx http://tobacco.org/news/265181.html Banning smoking in clubs and pubs has cleared the air but almost 12 months after its introduction by the state government, also has forced many establishments to drastically review their practices to ensure patronage and profit is maintained. The latest figures released by the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, between July last year, when the smoking ban was implemented, and February, show that turnover from poker machines fell by 11.4 per cent in pubs and by 7.7 per cent in clubs. Port Macquarie News Australia Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=25215 http://tobacco.org/news/265165.html Sioux City's proposed smoking ban at the Argosy Casino may be off the table. That's after casino officials and several members of the city council came up with an agreement that could ease everyone's concerns. A copy of the tentative agreement, obtained by NewsChannel Four, says the casino would agree to enhance their current filtration system. It would also allow the city to monitor the air quality at Argosy. The tentative agreement would also consider putting a non-smoking section on the boat, though casino officials say it'll be on a trial basis. They acknowledge the layout of the casino may prove too difficult for them to meet that requirement. Mayor Mike Hobart believes the proposed city smoking ban could launch Sioux City into a legal battle. KTIV TV Channel 4 ktivsales@ktiv.com Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.post-journal.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=27413 http://tobacco.org/news/265154.html GOWANDA -- The pros and cons of continuing the issuance of waivers to the smoking ban in public places is expected to be discussed by Cattaraugus County's Board of Health. During a Wednesday meeting, board members learned there are currently five establishments in the county that meet criteria to get a waiver from the smoking ban. State law went into effect in 2003, prohibiting smoking in public places, however, if criteria is met counties can issue waivers. Cattaraugus County began issuing waivers about four years ago, but, officials said, it is becoming difficult to monitor them. . . . A presentation regarding what other area counties are doing, along with deciding the merits of having waivers, will be planned for an upcoming health board session. Jamestown Post-Journal sturano@post-journal.com (Sharon Turano) Sat, 10 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2008/05/09/news/doc4823b930aaa5d812581598.txt http://tobacco.org/news/265151.html Illinois casino officials continue to blame the state's indoor smoking ban as riverboat gambling revenues have fallen for the fourth straight month, a report shows. Each of the state's nine riverboat gambling sites took in less money in April than they did in the same month last year, for an average loss of about 19 percent, according to the Illinois Gaming Board's monthly report. Each casino also saw its revenues and attendance drop from March to April. Even as the country's economy struggles and people may be more likely to cut some of the extras out of their personal budgets, Illinois casino officials say the smoking ban is what's hurting the state's boats. "We still believe it's the smoking ban," said Illinois Casino and Gaming Association director Tom Swoik. Illinois' falling casino revenues have prompted several attempts to exempt riverboats Journal Gazette and Times-Courier online@jg-tc.com (Mike Riopell, JG/T-C Springfield Bureau) Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.whotv.com/global/story.asp?s=8304978 http://tobacco.org/news/265134.html A city proposal that would have banned smoking at the Argosy Gaming Co. casino in Sioux City will be dropped after the casino has agreed to monitor the air and set aside nonsmoking areas. Councilman Brent Hoffman says he will table his proposed ordinance even though some business owners would likely not be pleased. Hoffman complimented Argosy officials for their efforts to set aside nonsmoking areas and monitor air quality. AP Sat, 10 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/11/gambling.tax?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront http://tobacco.org/news/265105.html It is not just a business, she insists, but provides a 'safe, sociable night out' for its thousands of members. More than three million people across the country regularly play bingo, a pastime with its roots in the tombola fund-raisers of nearly a century ago. But the major commercial chains such as Gala and Rank's Mecca bingo have seen their profits slashed by political and economic constraints - with little sign until recently that the industry's cries for help are being heard in Whitehall. 'The smoking ban hit us badly,' says Milton, 'particularly when the cold weather set in last winter.' But the industry bosses' main gripe is that, alone among gaming businesses, bingo faces 'double taxation' - the gambling profits' levy as well as VAT. And under the government's new gambling legislation, bingo halls have also had to cut back drastically on the number of their profitable £500 jackpot machines. The Observer reader@observer.co.uk UK Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT https://ecf.njd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/DktRpt.pl?772612336655342-L_567_0-1 http://tobacco.org/news/265076.html 05/07/2008 74 OPINION. Signed by Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr. on 5/6/08. (dc, ) (Entered: 05/07/2008) 05/07/2008 75 ORDER granting 56 Motion to Dismiss; granting 58 Motion to Dismiss; granting 61 Motion to Dismiss; granting 62 Motion to Dismiss; granting 63 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr. on 5/6/08. (dc, ) (Entered: 05/07/2008) U.S. Courts ECF Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-njdce/case_no-2:2007cv02162/case_id-202286/ http://tobacco.org/news/265075.html Filed: May 7, 2007 . . . May 10, 2007 3 Court Opinion or Order OPINION filed Signed by Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr. on 5/7/07. (cs, ) Justia Thu, 10 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/NEWS24/805110605 http://tobacco.org/news/265059.html The president of a local civic group is blasting state lawmakers who are on the verge of approving legislation that could have a serious impact on its bingo operations. Vic Barra, president of the Wayne Ford Civic League, said the legislation which bans smoking in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, would force bingo players to go to Indian casinos that would not be covered by the proposed ban. "This bill can't pass in its present form, the state is reaching too far with this," said Barra. . . . One senator approving the measure was Glenn Anderson, D-Westland, who described the ban as "one of the most important issues we will debate this year, in terms of protecting public health and reducing preventable smoking-related illnesses here in Michigan." "Workers in service industries shouldn't be forced to choose between their health and their job," Anderson said in a prepared statement. He said that 33 states have already passed similar legislation "to protect their workers from deadly exposure to secondhand smoke," including Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Anderson's press release cited a study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, that found that food service workers are approximately 50 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than the general public, because many are exposed to second-hand smoke at work. Barra believes passage of the legislation will have the same impact in Michigan that it had in Canada, where similar legislation has "put many bingo halls out of business due to the loss of customers." HomeTown Digital smason@hometownlife.com (Sue Mason / OBSERVER STAFF WRITER) Sun, 11 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/05/10/news/local//f23358976311a45b86257444007d78da.txt http://tobacco.org/news/265048.html Councilman Brent Hoffman's proposal to outlaw smoking on the Argosy Casino has been snuffed out. Mayor Mike Hobart and Councilmen Jim Rixner and Aaron Rochester said Friday they won't support the measure. Councilman Dave Ferris has declared a conflict of interest since he owns a restaurant covered by the upcoming statewide smoking ban. Hobart said he has concerns about whether a city ordinance would hold up in court since the Iowa Legislature outlawed smoking in bars and most workplaces, effective July 1. The new law exempts Iowa's 17 state-licensed casinos and some other places. Sioux City Journal LynnZerschling@siouxcityjournal.com (Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer) Sat, 10 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SMOKING_BAN_CASINOS?SITE=WSAW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://tobacco.org/news/265022.html A ban passed by the Michigan Senate on Thursday now heads to the House, which passed a narrower bill five months ago. If the new bill becomes law, smokers could pass up the trip downtown to gamble and head instead to Indian casinos, which aren't affected, industry observers said. But 37-year-old Yolanda Horne, who stays away from Detroit's casinos because the smoke inside is too much for her asthma, said she would reconsider if they went smoke-free. "I think it's excellent," Horne, of Detroit, said of the anti-smoking legislation. More than 30 states now outlaw smoking in public or workplaces, according to supporters of the ban, though some of the laws don't apply to restaurants and bars, while others make exceptions for casinos. Atlantic City's ban, which goes into effect Oct. 15, gives casinos the option to build enclosed, ventilated smoking lounges away from table games and slot machines. Smoking bans in other states have had negative impacts on casinos, said spokeswoman Jacci Woods at MotorCity Casino. AP Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aLjqZCK0EUPI&refer=uk http://tobacco.org/news/265014.html Rank Group Plc, owner of the U.K.'s second-largest bingo-hall chain and Grosvenor Casinos, said a sales decline eased after managers took steps to counter a decline in customer numbers caused by a ban on indoor smoking. Revenue fell 8 percent at outlets open at least a year in 2008's first 17 weeks, the Maidenhead, England-based company said today in a statement. That was less than the 10 percent slide in the first eight weeks. Cost-savings have strengthened the company's ``profit performance,'' it said. Rank opened sheltered outdoor gaming areas and installed electronic gear that permits remote play at its bingo halls to counter a fall in sales after England barred indoor smoking in public places in July. The company is vulnerable to prohibitions on tobacco use because about half of bingo players smoke, twice the rate of the general populace, according to executives. Bloomberg News lnesbitt@bloomberg.net (Louisa Nesbitt and Loveday Morris) UK Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT