Kansas and Missouri Push for Casino Smoking Bans in 2024

Kansas and Missouri lawmakers are preparing to revisit a contentious issue as they push for legislation to ban indoor smoking in commercial casinos. With legislative sessions set to begin on January 8 in Missouri and January 13 in Kansas, the debate over balancing public health and casino operations is heating up. Advocacy groups, casino employees, and industry stakeholders are voicing their opinions as momentum builds for stricter smoking regulations.

 

The Efforts and Regulations

Kansas, home to four state-regulated casinos, has historically exempted these establishments from the statewide indoor smoking ban implemented in 2010. The upcoming legislative push, led by the organization Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) Kansas, aims to change this. If successful, casinos like Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway and Kansas Star Casino at Mulvane would be required to go smoke-free. Tribal casinos, such as 7th Street Casino, would remain exempt under federal sovereignty laws, reflecting a critical distinction in the proposed regulations.

Missouri faces similar challenges. While the Missouri Clean Indoor Air Act limits smoking to designated areas in public spaces, casinos in St. Louis County are permitted to allocate up to 50% of their gaming space for smoking. The inconsistency has fueled calls for comprehensive reform, though resistance from patrons and some business operators remains a significant hurdle.

Public opinion on the matter varies widely. Casino-goer Melissa Dancer opposes the proposed bans, arguing that casinos serve as adult-only spaces where smoking should remain a choice. “I probably wouldn’t go as much because there are no kids around, and that was the whole reason why banning it in restaurants and stuff, cause there were kids around. This is like the only place we can escape without kids. They should not ban smoking in casinos,” Dancer said in an interview with KCTV 5.

In contrast, CEASE, an advocacy group originally formed in Atlantic City, has expanded its efforts to seven states, including Kansas and Missouri. The organization champions smoke-free workplaces for casino employees, highlighting the health risks posed by second-hand smoke. Joe Hafley, a Hollywood Casino security guard and founder of the Kansas and Missouri chapter of CEASE, emphasized the public health argument, stating, “85% of Kansans and Missourians do not smoke. We have lots and lots of support from different groups: American Heart, American Lung, Americans for Non-Smokers Rights.”

The casino industry is not ignoring the debate. Penn Entertainment’s Vice President of Public Affairs, Jeff Morris, defended the company’s current policies, noting investments in air filtration systems and designated smoking areas to balance customer preferences and health concerns. Despite these measures, advocacy groups argue that complete smoking bans are necessary to protect employees and guests effectively.

Nationally, the debate over casino smoking bans continues to evolve. New Jersey, another hotspot in the discussion, recently saw its Superior Court uphold smoking allowances in casinos, delivering a setback to CEASE and other advocates. Although an emergency appeal to the state Supreme Court was rejected, the advocacy efforts persist, signaling that this issue remains far from resolved.

 

85% of Kansans and Missourians do not smoke. We have lots and lots of support from different groups: American Heart, American Lung, Americans for Non-Smokers Rights.

 

Conclusions

As Kansas and Missouri lawmakers prepare for their respective legislative sessions, the outcome of the proposed smoking bans could set a precedent for other states grappling with similar debates. The conflict underscores a broader tension between public health priorities and the economic interests of a thriving casino industry, with implications for employees, patrons, and local economies alike.