Illinois Smoking Ban might exempt casinos

The Daily Herald reports:

Even before a statewide public smoking ban hits the books, lawmakers are trying to water it down.

With four new casinos possibly joining the state's current gambling fleet as part of a multibillion-dollar budget balancing plan, some state lawmakers want to make sure the state doesn't miss out on smokers' gambling dollars.

On Tuesday, an influential Senate committee approved exempting existing and future casinos from the forthcoming statewide smoking ban. As written, that ban covers restaurants, bars and virtually all public places including casinos. The plan now goes to the full Senate, where members also are awaiting a vote on gambling expansion.

The casino industry claims the pending ban will cost it nearly $150 million a year or 20 percent of the total take at the current casinos. Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, said upward of 60 percent of casino patrons smoke.

Opponents said casino workers deserve the same protection from secondhand smoke as everyone else.

"We passed this law the way that it is, including all workers in Illinois, because it was a level playing field, " said Kathy Drea, director of public policy for the Illinois American Lung Association. "When we start making these exemptions, it's no longer a level playing field, and it's no longer fair for everyone. "

The Illinois State Legislature hasn't heard of the concept of "equal protection under the law".