Industry trends towards smoke-free

Dover Downs – Delaware
Ed Suttor, Dover Downs Operating Officer, DE

"I think it's going to happen inevitably across the United States. There's an old saying: You have lemons, you make lemonade. We're advertising that we're smoke-free."

Trump Entertainment Resorts – Atlantic City
James B. Perry, Chief Executive Officer of Trump Entertainment Resorts, NJ

"Generally speaking, we believe over the next three-year period smoking will be banned in almost all casinos throughout the United States or certainly on the eastern seaboard." 

Quoted In: Harper, D., "Atlantic City Council bans most casino smoking: compromise ban clears the air on 75 percent of gaming floors," Press of Atlantic City, February 8, 2007.

Harrahs Entertainment – Atlantic City
J. Carlos Tolosa, Eastern Division President, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.

''Harrah's Entertainment fully-supports the Atlantic City Council's approved ordinance designating smoke-free zones within our resorts. We are committed to improving the work environment for our employees and we thank the Council for working with us on this important issue.''

Quoted In:  Sokolic, W.H., "Harrah's to create smoking lounges," Courier-Post, September 12, 2007.

 
Hilton Casino Resort – Atlantic City
Tony Rodio, Regional President of the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort and Resorts Atlantic City

"We propose that no dollars be wasted constructing walls or smoking lounges that are unsightly or ineffective on the casino floor, and that the industry, state and city all agree that each casino will be 100 percent smokefree at some point in the future."

Quoted In:  Rodio, T., "Rodio: scrap lounges, build attractions," Press of Atlantic City, September 20, 2007.
 

Tropicana – Atlantic City
Fred Buro, President, Tropicana Atlantic City, NJ

"Everybody's in the same boat. Everybody thinks everything should be smokefree,” Buro said of Atlantic City's desire to see a smoking ban spread to competing markets."

Quoted In:  Wittkowski, D., "Time runs down for smoking at casinos," Press of Atlantic City, April 2, 2007

 
Mohegan Sun – Connecticut
Mitchell Etess, executive vice president of the Mohegan Sun Casino.

"It's [going smokefree] just good business."

Quoted In:  Masterson, K., "Casinos offer a healthier alternative with non-smoking areas," Associated Press, April 17, 2001.

NOTE: Mitchell Etess is currently Chief Executive Officer the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) and President and CEO of Mohegan Sun.

Mohegan Sun – Connecticut
William J. Velardo, president and general manager of the Mohegan Sun Casino.

"Every survey of our customers has indicated that the number one amenity they would like to see at Mohegan Sun is a smoke-free gaming area… Similarly, in response to customer demand, we converted our poker area to a smoke-free environment in April 2000. The feedback we have received has been great"

Quoted In:  [n.a.], "Mohegan Sun announces new smoke-free venue," PRNewswire, October 17, 2000.

Casino Regina – Canada
Bill Davies, a spokesperson for the Crown corporation that operates Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw.

"We [Casino Regina] certainly look on the whole non-smoking policy by the government as a very positive thing. We think it's good for the casino, and, on the public side, we think it's good to have a completely smoke-free facility."

Quoted In:  [n.a.], "Smoking ban not a problem, casino operator says," Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, February 14, 2005. Downloaded Here