A group of anti-smoking advocates have called on Las Vegas casinos to ban smoking — calling it a “major blind spot” for the gaming industry.
On Thursday, the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) penned a letter to the Nevada Gaming Commission. In the letter, the organization said that the Commission’s stance on responsible gaming is at odds with its stance on indoor smoking.
“Allowing smoking on gaming floors not only poses significant health risks to workers and patrons alike, it also undermines responsible gaming by encouraging addictive behavior as well as prolonged gambling sessions without taking breaks — a fundamental tenet of responsible play,” the letter reads.
The ANR then calls the fact that many Las Vegas casinos have not issued a ban on smoking a “major blind spot.” More than that, the ANR refers back to research suggesting that indoor smoking can actually exacerbate problem gambling, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
While some of the best boutique hotels in Las Vegas are strictly non-smoking, many of the most popular resorts and casinos in the city still allow for indoor smoking.
Casinos are actually some of the only places where it’s legal to smoke indoors. Per the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act, which took effect in 2006, the vast majority of public places ban smoking throughout the state.
Reportedly, policymakers and other organizations across Nevada are relatively split on a Las Vegas smoking ban. The same goes for the public. A poll commissioned by Nevada Tobacco Control found that 58% of voters supported a total ban on indoor smoking, while 39% opposed such a ban.
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