The Kansas Senate has voted to end indoor smoking in casinos. A bill aiming to protect the health of both guests and employees at gaming venues in the Sunflower State also cites the importance of eliminating smoking to bring in new customers.
Cynthia Hallett, President and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR), released a statement in support of the decision.
"We applaud Kansas Senators from both parties for recognizing that casino workers and guests deserve protection from dangerous secondhand smoke. Casino workers in Kansas, like in a growing number of states across the country, have been urging their legislators to take action to finally end indoor smoking."
Casino employees in New Jersey have been fighting to end indoor smoking and announced last fall they will expand the movement to help others across the US.
Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) has now created CEASE affiliates outside of The Garden State, beginning with the inception of CEASE Rhode Island and CEASE Pennsylvania.
Since then, CEASE has been in regular contact with casino workers in not only Kansas, but also Virginia, Nevada and Indiana.
Hallett continued, "The Kansas workers were inspired by CEASE New Jersey, and this is the latest evidence that the worker-led movement that started in Atlantic City is only growing because workers are tired of having to choose between their health and a paycheck. We urge the Kansas House to also pass this bill and send it to Governor Kelly’s desk."
Change is occurring: at least 160 Tribal gaming venues implemented 100% smokefree policies during Covid-19; 23 states require commercial casinos to be smokefree indoors and over 1,000 gaming properties do not permit smoking indoors.
