I do think that our casinos are seeing a downturn. I can’t contribute that to not smoking,” Shreveport Councilor Grayson Boucher said during the council’s meeting this week. “I am not for going backward. I will not be voting to amend this legislation to allow smoking.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Data from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board reveals that entries to all five Shreveport\/Bossier City casinos have experienced similar admission declines since 2019. Compared with 2019, Shreveport casino attendance is down 32%, while Bossier City casinos have welcomed 29% fewer guests.<\/p>\n
The Shreveport City Council is expected to vote on reintroducing smoking on casino floors during its May 23 meeting. Health officials are encouraging councilors not to reverse course.<\/p>\n
\nThe surgeon general has said that smoke-free workplace policies are the only way to prevent second-hand smoke exposure at work,” said Alice Kline of the American Cancer Society. “Separating people who smoke from those who don’t, and cleaning the air and ventilating the building, cannot prevent exposure if people still smoke inside the building.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Dr. Martha Whyte, regional medical director for the Louisiana Department of Health, said the council prioritizes the casinos’ economic health over workers’ health.<\/p>\n
“The city council is focused on the economics of the casinos, but they’re not considering the health and wellness of the casino employees,” concluded Dr. Whyte.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Shreveport City Council banned smoking on casino floors in 2020. But at least one councilor wants to return to 2019 regulations and allow indoor smoking on designated sections of the gaming properties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":273242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13592,84860],"tags":[83267,83531,82070,82516,86292,82214],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Shreveport Casinos Could Soon Reintroduce Smoking<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n