The U.S. Nonsmokers’ Rights Organization (ANR) is applauding a win in Kansas, where the state Senate recently approved legislation to prohibit smoking within casinos. This measure centers on safeguarding the well-being of both casino staff and guests, and proponents contend it might even attract new patrons who favor a smoke-free gambling environment.
Cynthia Hallett, the head of ANR, issued a statement commending the cross-party backing for the measure, stating, “We commend the Kansas senators from both sides of the aisle who recognize that casino personnel and visitors deserve to be shielded from hazardous secondhand smoke.” She went on to emphasize how casino staff in Kansas, similar to those in an increasing number of states, have been strongly advocating for legislation to definitively end indoor smoking.
This initiative has been gaining traction across the nation, driven largely by Casino Workers Against Smoking Impacts (CEASE). This employee-led group, which originated in Atlantic City, has been motivating comparable groups throughout the country as a growing number of casino staff are declining to choose between their health and their wages. With CEASE branches now established in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, the campaign for smoke-free casinos is clearly gaining impetus beyond New Jersey.
From that point forward, their network with casino personnel in states like Kansas, Virginia, Nevada, and Indiana has flourished – it’s truly gained momentum!
As founder Pete Nacarelli stated: “This isn’t merely a solitary surge, it’s a complete swell.”