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Pa. Casinos Want To Expand Smoking Areas

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Dec 17, 2008 1:11 pm US/Eastern

Pa. Casinos Want To Expand Smoking Areas

Reporting
David Hall
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― The owners of Pennsylvania's casinos say limiting smoking is hurting business, so they're appealing to state officials to expand the size of their smoking sections.

Before September 11th, smokers like Erika Johnson, could light up wherever they wanted while trying their luck at places like the Meadows Race Track and Casino.

But that all changed when the Clean Indoor Air Act went into effect – limiting smokers to 25-percent of the gaming floor.

"I like coming and being entertained and of course enjoy smoking as well," said Johnson.

According to the Act, after 90 days the casino can request a report from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue showing the Gross Terminal Revenue difference between smoking and non smoking sections.

The Meadows Casino already has that data and has already filed for expansion.

"We submitted an exemption yesterday as our smoking games showed double the revenue than our non-smoking games," said Meadows Race Track and Casino Director of Marketing Jamie John.

If approved, smoking space at the Meadows could increase up to 50%.

But the news isn't sitting well with the American Cancer Society.

"We're very disappointed that casinos would take measures to expand the smoking up to 50% because it'll expose customers and employees to dangerous second-hand smoke," American Cancer Society director of Communication Dan Catena told KDKA.

Johnson, who is a smoker, says she thinks expanding the smoking section will help business. "I think that's wonderful, they'll get more people in here...It's a known fact that smokers spend more at the casinos."

Non-smoker Ernest Truffa said he doesn't have a problem with the proposal. "I think everybody should be given rights to smoke or not smoke."

If approved Meadows Casino officials say the expansion could happen in a few weeks.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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