Clearing The Air

Illinois House of Representatives votes to repeal smoking ban in casinos

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/4566475-460/illinois-house-votes-to-lift-casino-smoking-ban.html

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House voted Tuesday to lift a smoking ban in all of the state’s casinos....
the smoking prohibition has cost the state $800 million in lost casino-tax revenues since the imposition of the ban and has caused East St. Louis, home of the Casino Queen, to lay off municipal workers....

A report by the General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability characterized the indoor smoking ban as “the biggest contributor” behind a 28-percent decline in casino revenues since January 2008.

That 2010 report also noted casino revenues for Chicago-area casinos dropped by nearly 33 percent since the smoking ban was implemented, while gambling receipts for four neighboring Indiana border casinos fell only .4 percent during that same period.

Smoking bans have universally destroyed the gaming and hospitality industry around the globe:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html

http://www.smokersclub.com/banloss3.htm

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2009/03/worldwide-economic-meltdown-and.html

The repeal of many more smoking bans is all but assured now that lawmakers are being informed about the dubious ties that smoking ban lobbyists have with pharmaceutical nicotine (Nicoderm) interests:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/02/smoking-bans-good-public-policy-or.html

Furthermore, air quality testing now being brought forth proves secondhand smoke is not the "deadly" substance Nicoderm, Nicorette, and RWJF funded activists portrayed it to be:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2010/10/air-quality-testing-of-secondhand-smoke.html

posted by marcus aurelius @ 4:22 PM