Posted on 09/30/2006 3:20:05 AM PDT by SheLion
SEATTLE -- Non-tribal casinos have already lost tens of millions of dollars because of Washington’s new indoor smoking ban.
A new financial study, conducted by our own KIRO Team 7 Investigators, discovers taxpayers could loose millions as well.
Card-rooms, charity bingo halls, and some bars and restaurants are required to report financial information to the state every year. The state hasn't had a chance to look at the figures since the smoking ban took effect. I have. It looks like "no smoking" means economic devastation for the non-tribal gaming industry.
If there was ever any doubt that gamblers are also smokers, these numbers put that to rest.
KIRO Team 7 Investigators have been tracking revenue figures for 30 of the largest non-tribal casinos in Washington.
Before the smoking ban, that group had been averaging increased revenues of 13 percent the first 6 months of each year. Since the ban, instead of jumping up another 13 percent, gross revenues fell 14 percent.
“It’s killing us!”, says Tom Myers of the All-Star Casino & Lanes in Silverdale. He figures his poker room profits are down about 30 percent. Bar revenues have slipped worse than that.
Myers told KIRO Team 7 Investigators, “I'd like to be optimistic and think it will come back or at least level out, but the way the trend is, it's continually declining. You'll see more and more shut down. The stronger ones will survive, but the little-guy that’s creating, in here there are about 60 jobs alone, those jobs are going to go bye-bye if things go that way.”
Our exclusive research also found that during the first six months of telling gamblers that have to go outside to light up:
29 of the 30 biggest non-tribal casinos reported declining revenue. Several reported losses in excess of 40 percent.
“It’s devastating.” Says Dolores Chiechi of the Washington Recreational Gaming Association.
She says a half dozen casinos have already shut the doors & more are in real financial trouble. She adds many customers are heading to tribal casinos where they can smoke without leaving the table.
“They're definitely feeling the crunch because those who do gamble will always have somewhere else to go. They’ll go to the tribe casinos because they don't have to comply with the initiative rules that passed in November.”
The revenue shift is hard on state and local tax coffers as well. Tribal gaming operations pay about 2 percent back in local taxes. Non-tribal card rooms can pay up to 20 percent of gross receipts to taxes.
Myers adds, “The playing field need to be leveled. It's so lop-sided one way. It's tough to pay the bills let alone the taxes plus everything else you have to take care of to stay open.”
Ironically, Several of Washington's largest youth sports associations will likely also be seeing a dip in revenue this year.
Charity Bingo halls generate the majority of income for some local soccer, football, and swimming clubs.
Early figures show nearly every bingo hall in the state has lost money.
The State Gambling Commission is just now starting to look at the same numbers we've been crunching. That agency expects a full, detailed report in 6-8 weeks.
Dammit, maybe I am a crank, and my spelling and grammar are not always perfect but this is really starting to make me crazy!
Are they LOSING millions, or are they RELEASING millions?
This was not a post by a freeper, it is from a Media Outlet. Someone's parents took out a mortgage to send this person to school.
They would have been better off going to a casino with it.
Good lessons can be painful. Unfortunately, the pain will be suffered by low-income workers and not the SOBs who come up with this stuff.
This is clearly a case of the majority stepping on the rights of the minority. That seems to be okay on some issues but definitely not on other issues.
What are you talking about? I posted this article and yes, I am a Freeper. I didn't WRITE the story, I just posted it.
They would have been better off going to a casino with it.
Not using the spell checker aside, the point of this article is: SMOKING BANS ARE CHOKING THE ECONOMY!
And it's not just the employee's that are laid off or have hours cut back. It also trickles down to the vendors who supply the Casino's. They, too, will be used less for supplies.
Pennsylvania is starting to ban smoking all over the state. They better get an exemption for their Casino's and take a lesson from this.
Check out the Newsletter, updated weekly for news in your area:
Grrrr. All the smoking prohibitions are allegedly out of concern for public health. So what are we to presume? That no one cares about patrons and workers at casinos that happen to be run by Indians?! Sounds racist to me.
Well its hard to say but gambling isnt all that great either.
Perhaps what this article is really telling us is that gamblers are addictive people.
It seems like most states this one likes the revenue from Gambling and Cigarette taxes ,but they are cutting their own throats by passing laws hurting business. They seem to forget that if people dont want to be around smokers they can stay out of these places.Isnt it great how do-gooders always stick their noses in where they arent wanted?
They pass helmet laws, seat belt laws, no smoking laws, laws that protect us from ourselves, when they should just
mind their own friggin business.
That is what I said. If something is posted by a human being, as opposed to a journalist, I tend to ignore typos, etc.
I was basicaly agreeing with you.
On a local note, we had a K of C hall that had bingo games.
They decided to ban smoking.
Gamblers are risk takers, and most are willing to smoke.
So..No one ever came to the games any more. Rather than back down, they simply gave up having bingo games.
I was basicaly agreeing with you.
On a local note, we had a K of C hall that had bingo games.
They decided to ban smoking.
Gamblers are risk takers, and most are willing to smoke.
So..No one ever came to the games any more. Rather than back down, they simply gave up having bingo games.
Oh ~whew. Ok! 
I read your post before I had finished my first cup of coffee.
Well, we all know how gambling on the Net is running wild. A person can get on the Net from home, not get dressed, smoke, drink and gamble to their hearts content.
So, if their local Casino no longer permits smoking, they can always do it from the comfort of their own home. :)
Slight modification, if it's okay with you.
;-)
"So what are we to presume? That no one cares about patrons and workers at casinos that happen to be run by Indians?!"
The reservations are largely sovereign in such matters. I presume the tribal leadership sees the stupidity of it all, and refuses to follow suit.
And the nanny do-gooders are getting worse every day. No more live and let live. There is always some group today that wants to conform us to their way of thinking.
Just shoot me first. I was brought up with Freedom of Choice.
Sounds good to ME, Randall!!! 
I always enjoy watching these moonbats shoot themselves in the foot with the "Nanny State" mentality. Now the DemoRats will be screaming that tax revenues are lower and will have to raise taxes.
Bravo Sierra
Didn't I hear recently that Congress wants to outlaw on-line gambling?
We wanted to stay at the marriott, it's a better hotel, it's closer to our destination for the evening....but I requested a smoking room. The "reservation specialist" replied " Thank you, I have noted your request".
She then confirmed my reservation as if all was fine. I received an immediate email confirming my reservation and it informs me that marriotts are going non-smoking. Thats fine but as far as I'm concerned the employee lied to me by not disclosing that this hotel is already non- smoking.
So I cancelled not because either of us chain smoke ( I like a occasional cigar and she smokes maybe 10 ciggeretts a week.) I cancelled because they felt they had to lie to us to get our buisness.
Were off to a Red Roof Inn, because they will accomadate us. By the way its remodeled and I got a deal thats about 1/3 rd the Marriott.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.