Smoking Ban 'Summit' Misses the Mark on Casinos

Eliminating smoking in casinos—by eliminating their exemptions to existing smoking bans, drew the most debate during a so-called summit Tuesday, in Clayton. 

While representatives from four counties and St. Louis City were expected, only representatives from St. Louis and St. Charles were present for the brief meetup. 

St. Louis County District 6 Councilman Steve Stenger, St. Charles District 1 Councilman Joe Cronin, St. Charles District 2 Councilman Joe Brazil and St. Charles District 7 Councilman John White gathered together.

Participants seemed to agree they needed input from more local governments in order to tackle the potential for casino smoking bans.

The group also agreed to closely watch the St. Charles County Council as it prepares to vote on  in August 2012. 

"It's a positive step to have people talking about removing exemptions," particularly those for bars, said Stacy Reliford, field government relations director for the American Cancer Society in St. Louis. 

Jim Seago, a board member for Tobacco-Free St. Louis, said he's not disappointed that officials from St. Louis City, Franklin County and Jefferson County didn't attend as anticipated.

"I think it's really positive," Seago said of the meeting. The way he sees it, the meeting represents the start of an effort to remove smoking exemptions for casinos. That would level the economic playing field for Missouri casinos in view of the fact that Illinois casinos prohibit smoking, he said. 

Seago said that claims of Illinois casinos losing business to Missouri ones that allow smoking are inaccurate. Lumiere Place Casino in St. Louis has drawn visitors because of its marketing efforts and entertainment offerings, he said, leaving the Argosy Casino in Illinois outdated by comparison. 

Ultimately, the issue at hand isn't money at all, Seago said. "It's about protecting health."

Brazil stood outside the St. Louis County Council chambers before the start of Tuesday's meeting. The chairman of the St. Charles County Council said that while he opposes a smoking ban across the board, his county and others surrounding it need to "have a more consistent metropolitan smoking ban." 

He said it's probably not a bad idea that these counties get together on other issues, though he can't recall a gathering such as this one happening about other topics. 

"It's a hopeful approach," Brazil said.

Should casinos in Missouri be exempt from smoking bans? Why or why not?