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Smoking Ban Could Hurt Proposed Maine Casino

PORTLAND, Maine – As reported by the Associated Press: "If you want to gamble in Maine, leave your smokes at the door.

"A new state law that goes into effect Jan. 1 will mandate that a proposed $650 million casino, like virtually all buildings open to the public, be smoke-free. It is thought there is now only one smoke-free casino in the country.

"Some say a total smoking ban would hurt business and generate less revenue for the state. Others maintain that consumers are demanding more nonsmoking facilities and that smokers are conditioned to stepping outside to light up.

"Erin Lehane, spokeswoman for Think About It, which is backing the ballot proposal to create the casino in Sanford, said many Maine restaurateurs predicted business would suffer when smoking was banned in restaurants in 1999.

"…But John Michael of Auburn, a former state legislator who is leading a petition drive to overturn the state's new smoking law, said a nonsmoking casino in Maine is destined to fail.

"`If we pass this one, Massachusetts and New Hampshire will open smoking casinos and the only people in the Maine casino will be Maine people losing their paychecks,' he said.

"…Michael said his campaign will be at the polls on Election Day collecting signatures to force a referendum to overturn the new smoking law. If his group, the Maine Freedom Coalition, collects at least 50,519 voter signatures by Feb. 2, the question will be on the November 2004 ballot.

"As for a casino, some say that a gambling hall without smoking is like a movie theater without popcorn.

"…The only nonsmoking U.S. casino is thought to be the Indian-owned Taos Mountain Casino in Taos, N.M., with 240 slot machines and four gaming tables. General manager Robert Pokorney said the casino has been smoke-free since it opened seven years ago and uses that fact as a marketing tool…"

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