Illinois casino blames smoking ban for gambling drop

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BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Friday, February 08, 2008 | (27 comment(s))

METROPOLIS, Ill. (AP) -- Officials of Harrah's Metropolis riverboat casino claim Illinois' new smoking ban has resulted in the layoff of about 30 jobs at the casino.

Casino officials claim guests are spending less on entertainment and making fewer trips because of the ban and the casino suffered a drop in visitation compared to the previous six-month average.

General manager Mike Rich says a "national economic slowdown" also bears some of the blame for the layoffs.

Rich says the casino, which employs almost 1,000 residents of Illinois and western Kentucky, has no plans for additional layoffs.

Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel pointed out Thursday that he predicted when the smoking ban went into effect January 1, that it would have negative consequences on the local economy.

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To Smokers Suck- wrote on Mar 17, 2008 1:44 AM:

" "Smokers leave behind cig butts, ashes, and nasty smoke. Why should EVERYONE in the casinos be sujected to that?"

Not everyone is. Only people who CHOOSE to patronize businesses that CHOOSE to allow smoking. The casinos obviously feel that allowing smoking is in their best interest and that's why they did so. I don't know why so many people fail to see that this is an infringement on the ability of business owners to run their business in the way they want. It's no different than if you passed a law forcing Starbucks to only offer skim milk. "

john boy wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:25 PM:

" Smokers tend to be big gamblers because
you gamble your life when you smoke. "

phil wrote on Feb 8, 2008 7:21 PM:

" come on belteshazzer, your opinion is your opinion, but you sound like a typical conservative by trying to force your beliefs upon everyone else "

she-butt wrote on Feb 8, 2008 7:02 PM:

" I disagree with the ban. The ban should be an individuals choice. What happened to the land of the free? If an establishment wants to go smoke free, it should be their choice. Waitresses don't make any money now, nor do bartenders. Buisnesses are taking a lost. Boy those unemployment lines are going to be very long! "

Indiana Says Thank You wrote on Feb 8, 2008 7:01 PM:

" Come on Gambling, smoking and drinking go hand and hand I think one of the Indiana boats has a non smoking section if you don't like the smoke hang out there. I don't smoke but I still enjoy the boats and know a smoking ban would be bad for the boats! "

Keep Smoke to yourself wrote on Feb 8, 2008 5:09 PM:

" Hey Smokers! You have no respect for others around you. Father and Grandfather smoked for over 40 years. they both died a horrible death of gasping for air! I have second -hand smoke conditions thanks to their stupidity. Keep the stink to yourself!!! "

Belteshazzar wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:38 PM:

" Gambling is down and smoking is down. And the problem is...?
The real question is, how do we apply these learnings to drinking, carousing, and swearing?
"

Smokers suck wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:18 PM:

" Non smokers have lived too long without rights. It is time for a change. Smokers leave behind cig butts, ashes, and nasty smoke. Why should EVERYONE in the casinos be sujected to that? Find a place in the corner of the casino where smoking is allowed and smoke yourself to death. At least then you and your fellow dirties can kill yourselves and each other. And I can go home and not smell like an ashtray with my eyes all red and lungs filled with your carcinogens.

BTW I have spent more time in Chicago than I ever have because I can now sit in a bar or restaurant without having to inhale such digusting smoke. And my money works just that same as a smokers. But I have more to spend because I don't have to buy cigs. Believe me, nonsmokers have plenty of money to throw around. "

Barack wrote on Feb 8, 2008 3:43 PM:

" Vote for a smoker. Vote for me. "

smokeem wrote on Feb 8, 2008 3:41 PM:

" Why do you want to increase life span?
Got to pay Social Security and Medicaid for all those old people who really are ready to go if they have any belief in the afterlife.
Toothless, friendless, sitting on their depends, arthritic, zero memory. Many in poverty. Ignored by family.
I have seen aging in America and it aint pretty.
Now that I have depressed myself I am going to light up a cigarette. Might have a drink. What the heck some of the grandkids might give me a joint. Well that is if I ever see them again.
More interested in Myspace and video games than Gramma and her cookies.
They only come around to raid my medicine cabinet.
"

Bex wrote on Feb 8, 2008 3:39 PM:

" If every state banned public smoking then there wouldn't be damage done to specific states. Smoke at home so your only damaging your own lungs. "

TWO sins, TWO sins: TWO sins in ONE!! wrote on Feb 8, 2008 3:26 PM:

" Very nice! We get to get rid of both gambling and smoking at the same time!! "

non smoker wrote on Feb 8, 2008 3:05 PM:

" What is amazing if smoking is so bad why not ban it entirely.. Well to the answer to that is the money the government makes off smokers. I am not a smoker but if you want to talk about infringing on peoples right this is a prime example.. so all you carebears who cry about smoking.. Go back and crawl into your holes. "

smokeem wrote on Feb 8, 2008 2:22 PM:

" Oxegen
You might have fallen into the Ben and Jerry corporate ice cream trap. Or the Duncan Donutcorporate trap.
You might catch on fire from your BBQ or your car might explode.
You do not have to breath my smoke because all the casinos have smoke free sections.
I wish I did not have to breath bad breath, cheap perfume, body odor, cold germs, and auto emissions.
I have therefore decided not to hang around any people and am moving to the artic circle. Ta Ta "

2nd Hand Smoke wrote on Feb 8, 2008 2:16 PM:

" I hope state of Indiana passes the same law on non-smoking. 2nd Hand Smoke in not a myth. Illinois made an excellent decision. "

To: oxygen lover wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:58 PM:

" I agree with Smokem-If it wasn't for smokers taxes the government would find another way to tax everyone, so stop complaining. And by the way, learn how to spell. "

Shallow Water wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:47 PM:

" Total ban on Gambling, Tobacco and Alcohol. Tax churches, food, gasoline and medicine to make up for lost revenue. Simple! "

bill wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:42 PM:

"
Since the smoking ban went into effect
I have lost the urge to go to the boat and spend the evening "hanging out" I have found an outlet though, by gambling by on-line. I wish that someday smokers will get their rights back and be counted as citizens again, I also wish that government would attend to matters of much more importance and not worry about smoking bans and seat belt laws. I can worry about my own health and safety and they can handle the jobs that they should be doing Remember, Government is not the solution it is the problem. "

Casino Worker wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:34 PM:

" I work in a Indiana casino and I'm hearing that more Illinois residents are coming here to gamble and smoke,unfortunetly the non-smoking patrons and workers are suffering more. I do notice that the casino floors are more hazy with smoke lately, I hope Indiana follows with this ban and puts everyone on an even level. "

Oxygen Lover wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:27 PM:

" So Somkem, your saying We should all go down with you. Smoke till you catch on fire! But why do we have to breath your poison in a public venue. You and all the other smokers fell in the Big Corprate Tobacco trap and seems like your all proud of it. "

Realistic wrote on Feb 8, 2008 12:21 PM:

" How about the downturn in the economy or the bad weather that's happened since then? Let's be serious! "

NWI wrote on Feb 8, 2008 11:59 AM:

" I wonder how much business they attract from Indiana because of their smoking ban. I'm from Indiana and I prefer the to drive to the Illinois boats because they don't have smoking. The boats in Indiana are horrible when it comes to smoking. "

smokem wrote on Feb 8, 2008 11:41 AM:

" I spend perhaps 400 dollars a year gambling. Usually when I visit Arizona.
If they have no smoking I will not go. I will not especially miss gambling. I will miss smoking.
But for my tax on butts you none smokers would pay a lot more taxes somewhere else.
Plus instead of being in intensive care dying of absolutely nothing, I will know why I am there. Guess what you are going to die too. Perhaps after spending 15 years in the nursing home with Altzheimers and healthy lungs.
"

Only a matter of time wrote on Feb 8, 2008 11:35 AM:

" This is Blago's baby: the casinos. Look for an amendment on the smoking ban soon, our Governor is all about his casinos in his state. "

Non -Smoker wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:57 AM:

" Might be responsible for the drop in gambling but it should increase life span. If it wasn't soooo far, I'd drive there to gamble smoke - free. "

Ed wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:48 AM:

" No need to worry. They will just raise another tax to cover lost revenue. "

Casi NO: wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:30 AM:

" Too bad, so sad. Why gamble? "

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