Press release - November 19, 2020

Contact: press@no-smoke.org

Berkeley, CA — As Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak considers additional measures to address the worsening COVID-19 crisis in the state, advocates for smokefree indoor air at casinos today sent a letter to the Governor urging him to require all casinos to immediately adopt a smokefree policy indoors instead of closing casinos once again.

The letter from the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), a non-profit organization with members in Nevada who are public health leaders, says going smokefree is “a commonsense decision” that most Nevadans and the Culinary Union support.

“We urge you to require that all Nevada casinos immediately adopt a smokefree indoor policy, which is a better alternative to once again closing gaming properties,” wrote Cynthia Hallett, ANR president and CEO. “During this pandemic centered on respiratory issues, it’s unfathomable that Nevada casinos currently permit guests to smoke indoors. It makes no sense to allow guests to remove their mask and blow secondhand smoke—along with droplets carrying a potentially life-threatening disease—into shared indoor air. This jeopardizes the health of gaming employees and guests alike, and no credible public health official would approve of such an activity.”

Hallett noted that going smokefree has political support and is also a smart business decision. Plus, 23 others states now require smokefree indoor air in all commercial gaming venues as part of COVID reopening guidelines or legislation and more than 135 sovereign Tribal casinos and gaming venues have also implemented smokefree policies.

“Not only has the Culinary Union recently come out in support of smokefree indoor casinos, but the business argument for going smokefree has never been stronger,” Hallett wrote. “The American Gaming Association released a report this week showing that casinos in states with smokefree indoor policies have actually experienced year-over-year revenue increases or remained relatively stable, a remarkable feat given unprecedented capacity restrictions due to COVID-19.”

“Nevada gaming companies can gain a competitive advantage by sending a strong message that they take public health seriously by going smokefree indoors,” she wrote.

Hallett wished Governor Sisolak a quick recovery from his own case of COVID and acknowledged the challenges with making this decision.

“We understand the risk of making a decision that the gaming industry will reflexively oppose. But these are extraordinary times that require leadership to protect the lives of Nevadans. The good news is that industry fears about a smokefree indoor policy are unfounded and, in fact, such a policy is likely to attract more guests. We urge you to make the decision we all recognize as commonsense so that you can avoid closing casinos,” wrote Hallett.

Below is the letter from smokefree indoor advocates to Governor Sisolak:

The Honorable Steve Sisolak
Governor of Nevada
State Capitol Building
101 N. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701

November 19, 2020

Dear Governor Sisolak,

We write as COVID cases in the state continue to rise and as your Administration seeks to balance public health with economic considerations. These dual crises pose significant challenges and force difficult decisions with no easy answers.

That said, one easy decision, which the vast majority of the public views as commonsense, is to go smokefree at casinos. We urge you to require that all Nevada casinos immediately adopt a smokefree indoor policy, which is a better alternative to once again closing gaming properties.

During this pandemic centered on respiratory issues, it’s unfathomable that Nevada casinos currently permit guests to smoke indoors. It makes no sense to allow guests to remove their mask and blow secondhand smoke—along with droplets carrying a potentially life-threatening disease—into shared indoor air. This jeopardizes the health of gaming employees and guests alike, and no credible public health official would approve of such an activity.

Not only has the Culinary Union recently come out in support of smokefree indoor casinos, but the business argument for going smokefree has never been stronger. The American Gaming Association released a report this week showing that casinos in states with smokefree indoor policies have actually experienced year-over-year revenue increases or remained relatively stable, a remarkable feat given unprecedented capacity restrictions due to COVID-19. Most importantly, casinos with 100 percent smokefree policies, such as in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, have kept nearly all of their employees COVID-free. A smokefree indoor environment works.

Further, nearly 75% of guests prefer smokefree indoor casinos, and Americans reluctant to venture outside their homes during this pandemic are scrutinizing safety standards of casinos, restaurants, shopping malls, airlines and other public spaces. Nevada gaming companies can gain a competitive advantage by sending a strong message that they take public health seriously by going smokefree indoors. The trend towards smokefree—nearly 1,000 casinos nationwide do not permit smoking indoors—includes not only Park MGM in Las Vegas but more than 135 Tribal casinos across the country, including in neighboring Arizona and California.

We understand the risk of making a decision that the gaming industry will reflexively oppose. But these are extraordinary times that require leadership to protect the lives of Nevadans. The good news is that industry fears about a smokefree indoor policy are unfounded and, in fact, such a policy is likely to attract more guests.

We urge you to make the decision we all recognize as commonsense so that you can avoid closing casinos. And we wish you a speedy recovery from your own diagnosis of COVID.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Hallett
President and CEO
Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights