Ho-Chunk Nation goes smoke free at gaming facility on August 1

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

The Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison facility in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo from Ho-Chunk Nation

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The Ho-Chunk Nation is going smoke-free at its gaming facility in Madison, Wisconsin.

Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison will be the first tribal facility in the state to eliminate smoking. The change goes into effect on August 1.

“We’re excited to offer our guests and employees a completely smoke-free environment,” Daniel Brown, the executive manager at the facility, said in a press release. “We believe that we are among the first business which is choosing to do this on our own, rather than being publicly mandated to do so."

Electronic cigarettes, however, will continue to be allowed on the gaming floor. A separate area for smokers of traditional cigarettes will be created away from the facility.

“We still believe in providing areas to accommodate all of our guests, but, want to assure the existing building will be 100% smoke-free,” Brown said.

The Wisconsin Smoke-Free Air Law, which went into effect in July 2010, requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and other public facilities to go smoke-free. The law does not apply in Indian Country.

Get the Story:
Madison gaming facility to ban smoking (Channel 3000 6/15)
Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison Goes Smoke-Free (NBC 6/15)
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