Kansas Lawmakers Renew Effort to Ban Smoking in State-Owned Casinos

Last week, legislators in Kansas made important progress toward a possible state law amendment that would forbid smoking in state-owned casinos.

The action comes as part of a broader public health initiative spearheaded by Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE), a group that has been pushing for a smoke-free gambling establishment.

CEASE revealed the most recent advancements in their campaign for stricter laws that would eliminate the present exceptions that permit smoking at four state-owned casinos during a press conference in Topeka.

At the moment, casinos and other establishments that permit smoking in specific locations are excluded from Kansas state law.

Nonetheless, this exemption has sparked worries, especially among casino employees who frequently come into contact with secondhand smoke while working.

Legislators in Kansas are presenting legislation with the goal of granting state-owned casinos additional protection under the Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act (KICAA).

Under the current proposal, casinos would no longer be exempt from this rule, which was first passed to shield the public from dangerous tobacco smoke.

Should the bill be approved, all four of the state’s casinos—the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, the Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel in Pittsburg, the Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Dodge City, and the Kansas Star Casino in Sumner County—would have to be smoke-free.

With measures supported by the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the whole Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs, a bipartisan group of politicians is leading the charge for the proposed reform.

By amending the KICAA to specifically extend its protections to gaming establishments, these measures aim to do away with the antiquated exemption that detractors claim endangers the health of casino employees and guests.

Citing research that demonstrate the harmful effects of secondhand smoking and highlighting the need for a safer, healthier workplace for casino employees, CEASE Kansas has been outspoken in its support of the proposed law.

However, as Native American casinos are subject to federal restrictions rather than state ones, the proposed legislation would not apply to them.

This implies that tribal casinos would continue to be immune from the new law unless they decided to implement comparable regulations, even though it would directly affect state-owned casinos.

The nationwide movement to limit smoking in public areas includes this attempt to outlaw smoking at state-owned casinos.

Numerous states and local governments have put similar policies into place in a variety of public areas, such as bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, as more research continues to show the negative health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure.

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In the upcoming weeks, it is anticipated that Kansas lawmakers will continue to discuss the proposed legislation.

If the law is passed, Kansas would become one of the many states that have taken action to ban smoking in casinos in order to safeguard the health of both employees and guests.

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As the discussion progresses, proponents of a smoke-free gaming environment are optimistic that this significant move will contribute to bettering public health and fostering a more inviting and secure environment at Kansas’ state-owned casinos.

Joe Hafley, the security officer for the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway and the founder of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) Kansas and Missouri, said, “We’ve been breathing secondhand smoke on the job for years while lawmakers drag their feet — it’s unacceptable. No other workplace in Kansas forces employees to inhale toxic air, and it’s time for the Senate to finally fix this. We are not asking for special treatment — just the same protections as every other worker in the state. With strong backing from the full Committee, we’re confident that the Senate will recognize the importance of protecting Kansas casino workers and will advance the bill. Casino workers in Kansas and across the country have been risking their health for far too long.”