Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Calls Out Casino Industry for Hypocrisy in Fight Against Cancer

Las Vegas, NV — As Las Vegas gaming executives come together to raise funds for childhood cancer research, a critical health issue is being overlooked — the continued allowance of indoor smoking in many casinos. This practice exposes both families and employees to dangerous secondhand smoke, increasing the risk of cancer and other serious health problems.


In response Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights issued the following statement:


“If casino executives want to combat cancer among children and adults alike, they should immediately stop allowing indoor smoking at all of their properties. This is the best way for them to make a real difference and put substance behind their claims of valuing their team members – including pregnant women who work in this dangerous environment because they have no choice. The hypocrisy is stunning.”


While efforts to raise awareness and funds for cancer research are commendable, the ongoing exposure to harmful secondhand smoke in casinos contradicts these initiatives as there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Regional and tribal casinos are investing heavily in family-friendly attractions like water parks, arcades, and go-kart tracks to draw in children and parents alike, making it difficult for families, and specifically children, to avoid smoke-filled casinos.

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ABOUT AMERICANS FOR NONSMOKERS’ RIGHTS
Sister organization to the ANR Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for over 45 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos. ANR has continuously shined a light on the tobacco industry’s interference with sound and life-saving public health measures and successfully protected 61% of the population with local or statewide smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar laws. ANR aims to close gaps in smokefree protections for workers in all workplaces, including bars, music venues, casinos, and hotels. For more information, please visit https://nonsmokersrights.org and https://smokefreecasinos.org.