 A study by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for
Policy Analysis shows that only 24 percent of Illinois gamblers are
avoiding casinos because of the state's smoking ban. That's compared
with 40 percent of gamblers who said they've skipped a visit to the
casino because of the cost of gasoline, according to the study.
The survey was released Wednesday, just an hour before a measure in
the state Senate Executive Committee was to be voted on that would
exempt casinos from the state's smoking ban.
State Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Cicero, who is behind the push to
allow smoking in casinos, he said he disagrees with the survey.
"There has been a negative revenue impact as a result of the
impact of the smoking ban at the casinos," Sandoval insisted.
Adjusted gross receipts for casinos in Illinois dropped by 30
percent, from $1.9 billion to $1.3 billion, since the smoking ban
took effect on Jan. 1, 2008, according the Illinois Gaming Board's
2010 Annual Report.
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming
Association, predicted Sandoval would eventually call the measure
for a vote, given that casino revenue continues to slide.
Sandoval said he is working to find more support for his proposal
to allow smokers to light up in the state's casinos. The measure
already has been approved by the state House of Representatives.
The survey about gamblers' attitudes toward smoking was
commissioned by the American Lung Association in Illinois, an
organization that was instrumental in getting the state's smoking
ban put into place. It has been a defender of the smoking ban ever
since.
The survey questioned 401 people who had visited a casino in the
past 12 months. Of those surveyed, only 24 percent, or 96 people,
said a smoke-free environment would make them less likely to go to a
casino, while 45 percent, or 180 people, said they were more likely
to go a casino that does not allow smoking.
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"Smokers did not constitute a disproportionate percentage of
casino gamblers in Illinois. In fact, what we found was that about
20 percent of the casino gamblers report that they are still
currently smokers, whereas the prevalence rate in Illinois is about
21 percent. So it simply isn't true that smokers are more likely to
gamble at casinos than nonsmokers, as often as asserted," said Clyde
Barrow, the professor who conducted the study.
The prevalence rate is how many Illinois residents smoke.
State Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, chairman of the Senate Gaming
Committee, said he's come out against an exemption for casinos to
allow smoking. He said he blames the most recent recession for
declining gaming revenue.
Casinos in surrounding states that offer hotels, restaurants and
other amenities are another reason Illinois casinos are losing
business, Link said.
"I think that the casino industry would probably be better off if
they started putting signs out saying that they were smoke-free,"
Link said. "And I think once the recession goes away ... you are
going to see a lot more people coming into these types of smoke-free
atmosphere."
Sandoval has until May 31 to get his measure,
House Bill 1965, passed.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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