Press Release - May 17, 2021

Berkeley, CA -- Brian Christopher, a YouTube casino influencer and founder of BCSlots whose videos reach millions of players online, announced today that he'll no longer frequent casinos that permit smoking indoors, effective in 18 months. Beginning at the start of 2022, he will prioritize smokefree casinos. Christopher visits an average of 40 casinos each year.

"Today I make the pledge to prioritize visiting smokefree casinos beginning 2022, and to frequent only smoke-free casinos commencing 2023. I am putting the health of myself and my employees first, and I hope that casinos choose to do the same for their employees and guests," said Christopher in a message to casino operators. "As the gaming industry is now experiencing the biggest rebound and perhaps one of the most profitable years to date, I ask that you remember that our health is of the utmost importance while considering to remain permanently smokefree, and fulfill that promise for generations to come."

Christopher's decision comes after he conducted a survey of his followers and found an overwhelming preference for smokefree casinos. It also comes as hundreds of casinos, led largely by Tribal casinos, have adopted smokefree policies.

"Brian understands the preferences of avid slot players better than anyone, and this decision is rooted what his fans want," said Bronson Frick, director of advocacy for Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights. "We applaud Brian for taking this stand and offering the latest evidence that smokefree casinos are good for business and preferred by guests. The pandemic has changed everything around this issue, and we urge casino operators to adopt smokefree policies that keep their guests and workers safe from secondhand smoke."

Christopher's survey of BCSlots fan club members found the following:

• 78% say now is the time to make all casinos smokefree;
• 88% of the smokers say they would patronize non-smoking casinos that offer an outdoor area with slot machines where smoking is allowed;
• 94% of respondents believe secondhand smoke is harmful to health;
• 94% of frequent gamblers prefer smokefree indoor air casinos, including 88% of those who smoke; and
• Among higher income, frequent gamblers, a higher percentage of them are nonsmokers.

Background
More and more casinos nationwide are going smokefree. At least 160 sovereign Tribal gaming venues have implemented 100% smokefree policies during COVID-19, 23 states require commercial casinos to be smokefree indoors, and nearly 1,100 gaming properties do not permit smoking indoors.

A new report released earlier this month shows that even as hundreds of casinos in nearly half of all states operated smokefree from January through March of 2021, the commercial industry generated an increase in revenue of four percent compared with the same timeframe in 2019. The American Gaming Association finds the industry's "Q1 2021 revenue beat pre-pandemic totals from Q1 2019, matching the gaming industry’s highest-ever quarterly revenue total."

ABOUT BCSLOTS
Brian Christopher is the top social influencer for slot machines and casinos. With over 235 million views, his channel, Brian Christopher Slots, showcases Brian not only playing, but leading numerous events. He posts daily videos and hosts weekly live streams and events from all over the country to his 735,000 followers. For more, visit https://www.youtube.com/c/BrianChristopherSlots/.

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ABOUT AMERICANS FOR NONSMOKERS' RIGHTS
Americans for Nonsmoker’s Rights (ANR) is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for 45 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos. ANR has continuously shined a light on the tobacco industry’s interference with sound and life-saving public health measures and successfully protected 61% of the population with local or statewide smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar laws. ANR aims to close gaps in smokefree protections for workers in all workplaces, including bars, music venues, casinos, and hotels. For more information, please visit https://no-smoke.org/ and https://smokefreecasinos.org/.

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