Kansas, Missouri lawmakers to consider casino smoking ban
Both return for new legislative sessions next month.
Key Points
- Bills to ban casino smoking in both states have already been drafted
- A group of casino employees against smoking indoors have worked to see these bill presented to lawmakers
A bill to ban smoking in both Kansas and Missouri casinos could be on the table for next year’s legislative session, according a local KCTV news report.
The Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (C.E.A.S.E) has led the charge in Kansas and Missouri to see smoking ban bills presented to state legislators. Bills to ban smoking in casinos have been drafted in both states.
C.E.A.S.E Kansas and Missouri Founder Joe Hafley told local news that the group “has lots and lots of support” from other non-smoking groups that include American Heart, American Lung and Americans for Non-Smokers Rights.
He also shared that 85% of Missouri residents do not smoke.
Lawmakers in Missouri and Kansas are scheduled to return for their new legislative sessions January 8 and January 13 respectively.
The issue of indoor smoking in casinos has been a topic of serious debate in other states for the past several years.
Casino union workers in New Jersey have pushed for more than three years for lawmakers to ban casino smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos.
Indoor smoking is illegal in New Jersey and has been since 2006.
However, the current laws on the books allow smoking in casinos and in simulcasting facilities.
Smoking is permitted in Atlantic City’s casinos on 25% of the gaming floor. These spaces are not designed to contain smoke, causing it to waft into other areas of the casino.
New Jersey first revisited a possible casino-wide smoking ban after temporary bans during the Covid-19 pandemic were lifted in July 2021.
Following the decision to remove temporary bans, Atlantic City casino workers asked for permanent legislation that would prohibit smoking in casinos statewide.
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