DETROIT (AP) - Betty Gilbert says a proposed ban on smoking that would
extend to the city's casinos would keep her away, just like Atlantic City's
tough new smoking law will prompt her to cut back on gambling in her home state
of New Jersey.
"If they cut out the smoking, they should also cut out the drinking," said
the 69-year-old from Cape May County.
While others say the ban on smoking in work places would attract new
customers, industry observers say Detroit's three casinos would ultimately
suffer. Smokers might opt not to gamble downtown, or instead head to American
Indian casinos that wouldn't be effected by the ban.
MotorCity Casino spokeswoman Jacci Woods said similar smoking bans in other
states have had negative impacts on casino business.
"We are very concerned it will create an unlevel playing field in regard to
the triable casinos," Woods said.
Michigan's 18 tribal casinos are far enough away from Detroit that there
wouldn't be any major impact on gambling revenues, said James Nye, spokesman for
the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun
Lake tribe.
The tribe has been working for a decade to develop a casino in Allegan
County near Grand Rapids.
Casino analyst Jake Miklojcik said the extent of the possible impact is
unclear.
A Detroit resident might not make the 150-mile drive to Mount Pleasant to
the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort just to smoke, said Miklojcik, president of
Michigan Consultants. But he said gamblers who live a little closer in Detroit's
northern suburbs might be swayed.
MGM Grand Detroit said no one was available Friday to comment on the
proposal. A telephone message seeking comment was left Friday with a Greektown
Casino spokesman.
Across the Detroit River at Casino Windsor, which is being re-branded as
Caesars Windsor, Ontario's 2006 smoking ban has been blamed in part for job
cuts. A ban in Michigan could put Windsor's casino back on similar footing as
Detroit's casinos.
"In any competitive market, it's always advantageous to have more of a level
playing field, and it looks like this is what the legislation will do," said
Holly Ward, spokeswoman for the Windsor casino.
The anti-smoking bill goes back to the House, which has been waiting since
December for the Senate to act. The House could send the bill as early as next
week to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who backs the smoking prohibition.
More than 30 states outlaw smoking in public or work places, according to
supporters. Some bans don't apply to restaurants and bars, while others make
exceptions for casinos and other buildings.
In Atlantic City, a law passed by the City Council prohibits smoking on the
casino floor as of Oct. 15 and gives casinos the option to build enclosed,
ventilated smoking lounges away from table games and slot machines.
The Michigan bill that passed the House five months ago would have exempted
casinos, bingo halls, horse tracks, cigar bars and smoke shops from the ban. The
Senate stripped those provisions in favor of banning smoking in all workplaces.
Associated Press Writer David Eggert in Lansing contributed to this report.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|