Smoking in Casinos – Yes or No?

We’ve been hearing and experiencing smoking bans in the past few years. I think this is not restricted to the United States. Many countries in Europe and even in Asia have been proposing and enforcing smoking bans in public places. Even Amsterdam – of all places – has banned smoking in public!

I do understand the rationale behind these bans and to a certain extent, I actually agree. After all, with the problems that we are all experiencing due to the degradation of the environment, banning smoking in public is the least that we could do.

Yet what about smoking in casinos and other gambling places like bingo halls? Should smoking bans include such places? Technically, they are public places and should be included in smoking bans. However, you would have to admit that a large number of people who frequent these places are smokers and they have gotten used to the fact that they can enjoy their cigars and cigarettes while they play their games.

Then again, there are people who regularly go to casinos and bingo halls who are non-smokers. What about them? I think that the best solution is what the American Gaming Association has suggested. Since the year 2006, they have encouraged casino operators to install filtration and ventilation systems that would suck out all the smoke and blow in fresh air. If executed properly, these systems would make casinos virtually smoke-free.

I don’t know about you, but I think that that is a good compromise for both smokers and non-smokers alike. What do you think?