County authorities reject proposal to allow smoking in West Virginia casino
Article:Title: Mardi Gras Casino Remains Smoke-Free After County Health Board Denies Tobacco Petition
Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO For: Asia Pacific Gaming | Commercial Gaming | Politics
At the stroke of noon on May 16, 2025,
Last Updated: 12:10h
In an unexpected turn of events, tobacco enthusiasts visiting Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Nitro, West Virginia will have to continue their gaming sessions sans cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. A petition filed by Mardi Gras representatives last October to the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health for smoking allocation had been denied this week.
While the gaming floors of three out of West Virginia's five commercial casinos allow tobacco consumption, Mardi Gras is an anomaly. Although The Casino Club at The Greenbrier voluntarily bans smoking, the Mardi Gras Casino is prohibited due to a county ordinance. Executives from the New York-based hospitality colossus, Delaware North, hoped to outline designated spaces for indoor tobacco usage, excluding pipes, cigars, or e-cigarettes, constituting approximately 10% of their gaming area.
The Board of Health elected to uphold its commitment to public health during their vote, with Dr. Dara Aliff-Lao, an OBGYN, weighing in, stating, "I feel like it would send the wrong message for a health department to rescind anything... Once we start eroding things, they go away completely."
The Competitive Edge
In their appeal, Mardi Gras alleged that Sandy's Racing & Gaming, a facility in Ashland, Kentucky with slot-like historical horse racing (HHR) machines and a BetMGM Sportsbook, had negatively impacted their business due to its indoor smoking policy. Opening in October 2023, Sandy's is an hour's drive away from Mardi Gras and features 700 HHR machines.
Kentucky lawmakers legalized HHR games in 2021. These machines resemble slot machines but are parimutuel wagering devices. Delaware North claims that Sandy's has generated a considerable drop in Mardi Gras' slot revenue, potentially leading to a 6% annual decline, translating to a loss of more than $3.2 million. This financial shortfall could result in a reduction of approximately $66,000 in Kanawha County's tax revenue this year.
Beyond Sandy's, Delaware North believes the county's smoking ban hinders the attraction of potential patrons, as West Virginia has the highest smoking rate in the nation at 25.2%. Furthermore, the presence of 14 smoke-friendly counties in the Mardi Gras Casino regional market doesn't help their cause either.
The Board of Health's Standoff
Although not unanimous in its decision, the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health resolutely stood by its denial. Board President Jeremy Nelson and Jessica Hudson, the only two non-medical professionals on the board, voted to permit Mardi Gras gamblers to light up. Nelson asserted that Mardi Gras plays a significant role within the local community and is at a disadvantage when it comes to competing with other casinos that allow indoor smoking. However, his vote was not enough to sway the board.
In broader perspective, the Board's decision aligns with ongoing efforts to minimize second-hand smoke exposure in enclosed spaces and uphold smoke-free environments across public places, preserving the health and well-being of casino patrons and staff alike.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Smoke-free policies in multiunit housing can improve health and save lives. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resources/roommates/multiunit-housing.html
[2] World Health Organization. (2021). Ten facts on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ten-facts-on-tobacco-advertising-promotion-and-sponsorship
Insights:
- Smoking rates in West Virginia are higher than the national average, and there is a growing trend towards implementing smoke-free spaces to protect public health.
- The denial of Mardi Gras Casino's petition to allow smoking indoors is consistent with broader efforts to maintain smoke-free environments in public places, including casinos, to reduce health risks for patrons and staff.
- Sandy's Racing & Gaming in Kentucky, which allows indoor smoking and has slot-like historical horse racing machines, is believed to be causing a decline in Mardi Gras Casino's slot revenue due to its proximity and attractiveness to smokers.
- The presence of smoking-friendly counties in Mardi Gras Casino's regional market could be deterring potential customers and contributing to its performance issues.
- The decision to deny Mardi Gras' request was not unanimous, with two board members voting in favor of allowing smoking, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding indoor smoking policies and their impact on businesses and public health.
- Despite the denial of Mardi Gras Casino's petition, tobacco enthusiasts will continue to play casino-and-gambling games sans cigarettes, pipes, or cigars within the smoke-free establishment.
- In West Virginia, only three out of five commercial casinos allow tobacco consumption, making Mardi Gras Casino an anomaly due to its county ordinance.
- The Board of Health in West Virginia has upheld its commitment to public health by denying Mardi Gras Casino's appeal for smoking allocation, citing its concern for the erosion of health regulations.
- Sandy's Racing & Gaming, a smoke-friendly facility in Ashland, Kentucky, with historical horse racing (HHR) machines and a BetMGM Sportsbook, is believed to be contributing to a decline in Mardi Gras Casino's slot revenue.
- Delaware North, the owners of Mardi Gras Casino, claim that the county's smoking ban is hindering the attraction of potential patrons, particularly those residing in tobacco-friendly counties.
- In a broader context, the Board of Health's decision to maintain smoke-free spaces in casinos aligns with ongoing efforts to minimize second-hand smoke exposure and promote healthier environments.
- The debate surrounding indoor smoking policies was not entirely resolved by the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health, as two of its members voted in favor of permitting Mardi Gras gamblers to light up.
