Anti-smoking groups try again

INDIANAPOLIS -- Proponents of a statewide smoking ban returned to the Capitol this week arguing that air in Indiana's casinos is "very unhealthy" and casino employees should not be compelled to breathe it as part of their jobs.

In just four hours on the floor a casino worker is exposed to more fine particle air pollution than the 24-hour limit recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Meredith Edwards of the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians told a panel of state lawmakers Monday.

A 2008 study by the physicians group, Purdue University and the Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air found that air in Indiana casinos was 14 times more polluted than outdoor air.

"The only way to eliminate the health risk of tobacco smoke pollution is to ban indoor smoking," Edwards said. "You can't just separate smokers and non-smokers."

However, lawmakers on a study committee considering changes to Indiana's gambling laws did not do much beyond listening to the claims.

A smoking ban with exemptions for bars and casinos was approved by the Indiana House this spring, but failed to win approval in the state Senate. That's because casinos and gaming interests are influencing lawmakers with campaign donations, said Cynthia Hallett, executive director of the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.

"The millions of dollars spent by the gaming industry in Indiana to influence legislation have had a toxic payout for Indiana's casino workers and the public. When casinos use this influence to defeat a common sense comprehensive smokefree workplace law, the entire state suffers the consequences," Hallett said.

In Illinois, a indoor smoking ban took effect in 2008 and includes a ban on smoking in casinos and bars. Among the 12 states with casinos and smoking bans, only Illinois and Colorado ban smoking in casinos.

An analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis in June calculated that revenue at Illinois casinos has dropped 20 percent and admissions have fallen 12 percent due to the smoking ban. There has also been a $200 million loss of casino tax revenue paid to state and local governments, according to the report.

Gambling taxes are the third-largest source of revenue for Indiana state government. Only sales and income taxes bring in more money.