Opinions: Smoking ban at Connecticut casinos

Wednesday, April 22, 2009  

The New London Day published rival opinions on a controversial bill that would ban smoking at Connecticut's tribal casinos.

Lynn Malerba, the vice chairwoman of the Mohegan Tribe, says the bill would infringe on sovereignty and hurt business. She says revenues at Mohegan Sun will go down by 20 percent under a smoking ban.

"If smoking is banned at the casinos, there will be layoffs," Malerba writes.

State attorney general Richard Blumenthal supports the ban. He says the tribal-state Class III gaming compact requires tribes to abide by health standards that are at least as strict as the state's.

"No economic apocalypse will result from a smoking ban at the casinos — just as there was none at restaurants and bars," Blumenthal writes. "As a matter of fact, business there has increased because non-smokers — who constitute more than 80 percent of our society — can finally enjoy smoke-free environments."

Get the Story:
Lynn Malerba: Mohegans comply with state compact (The New London Day 4/21)
Richard Blumenthal: Ban respects rights of tribe and public (The New London Day 4/21)

Another Opinion:
David Collins: Smoke And Maybe Fire Over Casino Ban (The New London Day 4/22)