(PRESS RELEASE) -- Smoke-Free Gaming of America advocates will be displaying health warning signs about secondhand smoke exposure at the G2E and adding humor for passing gaming attendees by wearing masks depicting the likeness of gaming executives Steve Wynn, Sheldon Adelson, Gary Loveman, Jim Murren, and Donald Trump.
"Since a vast number of casino companies are operating and building smoke-free casinos, it really makes sense to depict casino executives as supporters of the nationwide smoke-free movement," said Stephanie Steinberg, chairwoman of Smoke-Free Gaming of America. "After all, these casino companies continue to expand and build casino properties in smoke-free states."
Smoke-Free Gaming states such as Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Montana, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington and Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory are already part of this smoke-free trend.
Who: Smoke-Free Gaming of America advocates
What: Bringing awareness to gaming companies about the health hazards of secondhand smoke exposure to their employees and customers while emphasizing the growing number of smoke-free gaming states.
Where: Public sidewalk next to the Sands Expo and Convention Center, 201 Sands Ave., Las Vegas, NV.
When: October 2-4, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Fact List:
Due to rising health-care costs associated with secondhand smoke inhalation, gaming companies are now realizing the health care savings of operating smoke free. Penn National Gaming, for example, does not hire individuals who smoke at their Ohio casinos and operates smoke-free casinos in Ohio and in other states. The recently-built Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. also operates smoke free.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smokers die on average 14 years sooner had they not smoked. That translates to 14 years of lost revenue for gaming companies.
- About 80 percent of gamblers do not smoke.
- According to the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic (cancer-causing), including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
- The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the preeminent U.S. body on ventilation issues, has concluded that ventilation technology cannot be relied on to control health risks from secondhand smoke exposure. A total ban on indoor smoking is the only effective means of controlling the health risks of exposure.