South Bend gamblers who like to slip over the border and play at one of the Illinois casinos will either be elated -- or unhappy -- about a recent piece of legislation that was approved by the Illinois House allowing gamblers to once again smoke in casinos. House Bill 1965 will permit smoking in those establishments as long as the nearest authority to each casino
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Daniel Burke D-Chicago, remarked that the decision was mainly an economic one. "Since the imposition of our statewide smoking ban, to date our state has lost revenues in excess of $800 million." The original law which banned smoking in state casinos was passed in 2008. The measure would still need to pass the state senate, where the original bill banning smoking originated, and would have to be signed by the governor, who opposes lifting the ban.
Smoking has long been a hot issue for both Indian and non-Indian casinos. In most states, Indian gaming establishments are able to allow smoking despite state laws banning the practice, due to their sovereign status (Indian reservations are technically foreign nations and governed by their own laws, although they are not exempt from federal law). Non-Indian casinos, however, are required to adhere to the laws of the state in which they operate.
Many casino patrons enjoy smoking, while others often complain to management about the amount of smoke present on the gaming floor. Excessive smoke is one of the top complaints, according to casino guest relations managers. Although most casinos employ high tech smoke filtration systems, the problem is still one that casino managers must constantly address with their regular customers. Illinois gaming revenues may increase due to the fact that smoking is now allowed, but there will still be a percentage of casino customers who may take their business elsewhere because of concerns over second-hand smoke.
For South Bend area gamblers, the closest casinos that this new law would affect are Harrah's and Hollywood Casino in Joliet, Hollywood Casino in Aurora, and Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. This is good news for folks who enjoy smoking and gambling while visiting the Chicago area. Of course, the Gary, Indiana casino properties (also called "East Chicago"), all of which are closer to South Bend, still allow smoking as well.
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