Missouri House bills target indoor smoking ban including casinos

Casinos in Missouri could be required to enforce indoor smoking prohibitions under proposed House legislation HB 1618 and HB 1901, measures that outline exceptions but include casinos among covered venues.

HB 1618, dubbed the “Missouri Indoor Clean Air Act,” is sponsored by Missouri State Rep. Bruce Sassman. HB 1901 is sponsored by Missouri State Rep. Adrian Plank. If approved, the proposals would not allow smoking indoors.

The bills contain exceptions, but casinos are cited among the places where indoor smoking would be prohibited.

Employee group cites secondhand smoke concerns

According to Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (C.E.A.S.E.), the measures are intended to address secondhand smoke exposure for workers on casino floors.

“It’s not just for banning smoking,” said C.E.A.S.E. Kansas and Missouri founder and leader Joe Hafley. “It’s for protecting workers from secondhand smoke.”

Hafley said casino employees, including workers with asthma and other respiratory problems, should not be required to spend shifts exposed to secondhand smoke.

“No one should have to work in secondhand smoke,” he said.

St. Louis-area residents divided on smoke-free casinos

FOX 2 News reported mixed reactions from St. Louis-area residents regarding the possibility of a smoke-free casino experience.

“A lot of us like to go out and gamble,” Chrishea Sanders said. “Sometimes it can deter you from gambling because you’re choking on cigarettes, cigars, or whatever else they’re smoking inside the casino.”

Others said they oppose changes to smoking rules inside casinos.

“I don’t think it should change,” Missouri resident Amanda Anic said. “I think smokers should still have the privilege to be able to smoke, and non-smokers sit in non-smoking sections.”