November 30th, 2010 – by Glen Farmer
The smoking ban in Illinois casinos was heavily protested by casinos and smokers alike, and the issue has come to a point where smoking gamblers are actually leaving the state in order to partake in the games while enjoying their vice.
Revenue figures before the ban and over the last year have been compared, and it shows that revenue is down nearly 32 percent. The figures compare 2007 with 2009.
The fallout from the lack of smoking in these casinos has proven to be beneficial for Indiana’s casinos. Especially those smokers who live near the border, these casinos have been benefiting from the smoking ban that has proven dismal to casinos in Illinois.
A new bill is in the works, however, to allow smoking in some parts of the casinos in the state. The riverboat casinos and land based casinos would be allowed to operate certain smoking areas within their gaming centers.
These smoking sections would be enclosed and segregated as to separate smokers from non-smokers and prevent the damages related to second hand smoke.
According to reports, the state has lost nearly $500 million in tax revenue because of gamblers who are leaving the state in order to visit casinos that would allow them to smoke tobacco within the building.