Illinois Smoking Ban Has Not Damaged Casino Revenue, Study Claims

This study was obviously paid for by groups that wish to deny the obvious. After the smoking ban was introduced on Illinois riverboat casinos, on January 1st 2008, the revenues and attendance took sharp declines, which this study attempts to blame on the effects of the general economic showdown. But the 20.6% decline in casino win (from $1.330 billion to $1.040 billion) at the 4 greater Chicago riverboats was not experienced by the 4 greater Chicago riverboats in Northwest Indiana, who saw their win drop by only 0.6%. And Illinois attendance declined by 14.1%, while Indiana's was slightly higher. And for those IL players that took smoke breaks outside, they helped reduce the win per casino visit from $141.83 in 2007 to $129.05 the next year. But because of Illinois' tax rate that increases, at higher levels of win; the tax impact was even greater declining from $570 million to $383 million in 2008 (down by 32.8%).And checking out the continuing impact in 2010, before IL added a 5th riverboat in Des Plaines; and before the introduction of Video Gaming Terminals in 2012. 5 machines are allowed at any business that can obtain a Liquor License, and has further harming casino win, attendance and taxes from IL riverboats. The riverboat casino win at IL's 4 Chicago boats continued their downward spiral to a win of $858 million (down 32.8% from 2007), win taxes of $296 million (a drop of 48.1%) and attendance of 7,090 million (a reduction of 24.4%). The bad news for the state of Illinois, was a reduction of casino taxes of $275 million on win and another $7 mil;ion on admissions.During the same 3 year period, Indiana did see a drop in casino win of $13 million (1.3%), possibly benefiting from IL smoking customers who were tired of going outside to have a smoke, while the win per player continued to drop another $8 in Illinois.If Illinois really wants to stop smoking in the state, they should stop the sale of cigarettes, because just eliminating smoking at public places, moves it inside the home, where children are at risk. But that would cost the state $billions in cigarette taxes, an unpopular option, and solution; because smokers will just go across state lines to buy their product.   A superior option, is to allow smoking in special well ventilated smoking rooms, where only smoking employees are permitted to work. That solution leaves only smokers at risk of inhaling second hand smoke.