Posted on 09/24/2002 4:22:36 PM PDT by SheLion
LAS VEGAS - Perhaps the biggest threat to growth in the U.S. casino industry comes not from antigambling interests, but from health-conscious public officials.
A group that sets the country's indoor air-quality standards is under "enormous" pressure to make casinos and other hospitality venues smoke-free, an expert warned attendees at the Global Gaming Expo on Thursday.
"With the collapse of the tobacco industry, (?) the hospitality industry is next to come under attack," said Elia Sterling, president of Theodor Sterling Associates, an indoor air-quality firm based in Vancouver, B.C.
If the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, or ASHRAE, were to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for smoke particles, casinos could lose billions in revenue, according to legislative analyst Wayne Mehl of the American Gaming Association.
Forty percent to 50 percent of casino gamblers are smokers, about double the percentage of the U.S. population as a whole, Mehl said. A 1993 gaming-industry study showed that Nevada casinos alone would have lost $1 billion in revenue if casinos were forced to go smoke-free.
"It's not just the loss of customers, but also the loss of gambling time - 12 percent less time for smokers. They would spend that time going out for a smoke," Mehl said.
Of course the casino industry is concerned about the effects of second-hand smoke on its employees, Mehl said, but Thursday's panel discussion was all about the bottom line.
The industry will get a glimpse of the possible future beginning Nov. 27, when the three Delaware racetracks become the first casino jurisdiction to go smoke-free as part of a broader state law.
"There's a lot of talk about how much (gaming-tax) revenue the state will lose, and not only that, but jobs, too," said Don Johnson, deputy director of the Delaware State Lottery, which controls the racetrack slot-machine operations.
Delaware officials have been in touch with counterparts in Australia, where every gaming establishment was required to provide a smoke-free gaming area by Sept. 1. Johnson said he was told that the Australian smoking ban caused a sharp decrease in casino revenue initially but that business is beginning to recover.
At issue for U.S. casinos is ASHRAE Standard 62-1999, which governs how casinos, restaurants, bars and lounges filter and dilute their air to control tobacco particles, tobacco odor and body odor.
"It's intended to accommodate smoking in buildings," Sterling said. "This ASHRAE standard is a practical standard and is working well in the field."
For example, he said, the lavish Bellagio casino hotel here "provides better air quality indoors than you'll find outdoors."
Special interests, however, are aggressively pushing for standards so tight they "would effectively ban smoking in the hospitality industry," Sterling said.
ASHRAE (which conveniently rhymes with ashtray) is a 108-year-old non-government trade group of indoor-air specialists whose standards governance has been taken over by public funding and public officials, Sterling said. Today, the group's standards committee is chaired by an official from the Environmental Protection Agency and has only two representatives from the hospitality industry, he said.
"They're in the process of adopting a zero-tolerance approach to tobacco smoke. One molecule of tobacco smoke is unacceptable," Sterling said. "The debate is clearly not about health as it is about social engineering to denormalize smoking."
Matthew Iandoli, a Washington-based lobbyist and lawyer, said the Hospitality Coalition on Indoor Air Quality is trying to pre-empt the proposed new rules by adopting its own guidelines for smoke and ventilation. The group's members include the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, which represents more than 14,000 Atlantic City casino workers, and the Nevada Resort Association, which represents the gaming industry here.
Iandoli warned that any action, or non-action, by the hospitality industry could expose it to substantial legal damages.
"Trial lawyers are trying to find that avenue, trying to find that chink in the armor where they can pursue those class-action lawsuits," he said. "If the ASHRAE standard goes forward, that will be the point at which the lawyers will try to show that the casino industry has harmed its employees."
From the casinos' point of view, Mehl said, the "ideal" solution to shielding employees and customers from smoke is a combination of effective ventilation and smoke-free areas.
To e-mail Joe Weinert at The Press:
JWeinert@pressofac.com
Your statement will be incorrect when the NYC ban goes into effect and is probably incorrect in other places.
These bans are not for the health of the PATRONS, they're touted as for the health of the EMPLOYEES. In that case even a private, members only club would not be able to allow smoking.
We call these 'Indian casinos' in the west, and they seem to be re-vitalizing the social lives of serious smokers . . .
A very good point which I overlooked.
Then some idiot would come up with a discrimination lawsuit.
The only way you can have a smoking bar in Cali is if it is owner operated. However, there are plenty of establishments that have adopted Prohibition style ways to get around it. She Lion posted a thread about that. There are also bribes a plenty going around.
End of the day for my arguments as I have to attend to some errands. I will close with the following thoughts; not arguments, just reflections. Years ago I had to put up with smoking office-mates as they had a "right" to smoke. Times change, society changes, laws change. I am greatful for the laws since employers were slow to accomodate those wishing to work in a non-irritating environment. Years ago I had to expect that I would be subjected to smoking in restuarants. Times change but restuarants were slow to accomodate. Then when non-smoking areas were introduced (volutarily or regulated) it was a joke. I often stood in line for the non-smoking section while those of less determination would "accept" a seat in the half empty smoking section although desiring non-smoking. It was "convenient" for the restaurant to operate in this manner. I am glad the laws have changed so now I can generally feel free to be able to go out to eat without having an irritant being expelled nearby. Years ago I had to endure being cooped up in an airliner with smokers. Times change. Years ago, smokers could pollute elevators. Times change. Yes, there are some militant anti-smokers, but this issue is driven by the many that just find smoking disgusting and want to be free to mingle in society without that irritation. Years ago, I had to wait for a plane and there was ONE cigar smoker in the area. I went to the other side but it was still nauseating. It only takes one of these to kill any good will by other smokers. Hence more and more regulations because "society" wants it. Times change. Good Day!
You have proven yourself unable to engage in dialog without verbal abuse. Bye.
I'm sorry to have to correct you again,,but,,,
Communism is a system where property is owned and controlled by the state (communists call this the people),
capitalism is a system whereby property is privately owned and contolled,
and fascism is a system whereby property is privately owned but controlled by the state.
Therefore, regulation is entirely consistent with good old FASCISM. It is important to define your terms correctly.
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