The Kanawha-ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Board of Health made the right call in voting down an exemption of the Clean Indoor Air Act that would've allowed for smoking in some parts of Mardi Gras Casino and Resort in Nitro.Â
The request was made several months ago by casino owner and operator Delaware North because of declining revenue at the resort's slot machines. Slot machines are the preferred game of smokers, the company argued, so allowing for a small smoking area where some slot machines could be placed would bring in more customers or keep them there longer.Â
The Board of Health rejected the proposal, 4-2, with member Danita Nellhouse offering the best take on the proposition, saying: "We are board members of the health department. We're not the chamber of commerce. Our first priority is the health of the residents here."Â
Those words cut to the heart of the matter. Cigarette smoke can cause cancer and a host of other chronic health problems. The risk is just as great to individuals exposed to secondhand smoke as it is to smokers. As we said in this space back when the request was first made, going backward on public health policy for the chance at a bottom-line bump wasn't worth the risk, and it's good to see the Board of Health agree.Â
Now, there is some important context that needs to be explained. Delaware North was not seeking an exemption to allow smoking throughout the entire casino. Ownership wanted to place 150 of the casino’s 760 slot machines in a designated, closed-off smoking area equipped with a specialized HVAC system that would keep secondhand smoke away from other patrons. However, many health officials, including the U.S. surgeon general, have stated that those setups don't do anything to reduce the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke.Â
As we said back in October, the philosophy behind the plan was a bit tilted. The casino wants smokers to be able to smoke while at slot machines instead of going outside to light up, because, if they leave the electric glow of the slot machine, they might decide to leave. The proposal seemed designed to facilitate two harmful addictions at once.
At the end of the day, the casino is there to make money, and adults can make their own decisions to play or not play, or to smoke or not. Still, the concept felt warped. Â
Yes, some casinos allow indoor smoking in some areas, and it’s fine for the owner of Mardi Gras to argue that it’s at a competitive disadvantage. However, enacting a policy that flies in the face of public health in a region that has some of the poorest health in the nation was never a winning idea. Â
