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alcohol, but is unsure how the Cannabis Regulatory Commission or state gaming regulators would foster their co-existence.
“I think smoking cigarettes and smoking marijuana and
ingesting alcohol are going to be the comparative scenarios (where the casinos designate) where you can and cannot do these items,” said Scutaro. However, the anti-smoking movement has new life. In true Emanuel fashion, America’s largest anti-smoking advocacy group recognizes their opportunity to ban smoking in casinos. Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights approached AGA CEO Bill Miller with that message before the recent semi-annual AGA board meeting. They also contacted Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, requesting all statewide casinos adopt an indoor smoke-free policy to prevent repeated closures. Their platform is to condition any operators’ federal
COVID-19 relief funds on smoke-free casino mandates. CEO Cynthia Hallett said, “We take issue with casinos potentially receiving such relief funding, (which) is necessitated by a pandemic involving respiratory issues, while still permitting an activity – indoor smoking – that promotes the spread of COVID-19.” It’s no stretch to imagine this scenario. Almost 24 states
now require 100% smoke-free gaming properties as do 135 tribal casinos nationwide. Since 2010, several states have also opened smoke-free casinos. Nevada has historically resisted enacting smoke-free
policies. Now, companies, like MGM Resorts are using the shutdowns to test public attitudes at some properties. Hallett wrote to Miller, saying, “Industry arguments against going smoke-free have grown stale and do not withstand scrutiny. We request that you only accept taxpayer dollars, which we agree are needed to sustain gaming jobs and business operations, if casino operators agree to adopt a smoke-free indoor policy that would help to keep employees and guests safe.” How society has changed. Hollywood once made smoking glamorous and recreational drug use unacceptable.
We all know who won the White House last November, but Congress remains uncertain as of press time. The Georgia senatorial runoff elections will determine the direction of the U.S. for at least two years, so the campaigns have raised hundreds of millions. Wouldn’t it have been nice to use that money to help needy families this year? At 78, this was Joe Biden’s third try since 1988. He spent 47
years in government as a Senator and Obama’s VP. Kamala Harris is historic as the fi rst woman VP who is also biracial. She was California’s Attorney General and then its Senator since 2017, but she has no national experience. Their business philosophy is very different and will impact most businesses and workers. So, just like in February 2017, I’ll analyze what that will mean going forward. In 2017, the Trump Administration upended Obama/Biden White House policies. When Donald Trump leaves Washington this month, any
remnant of his former Atlantic City casino empire will also fade. To raise money for a local children’s charity in Atlantic City, a live local online auction will let the highest bidder push the button that demolishes the vacant Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in February. The casino closed in 2014 and was sold in 2016. By New Year’s Eve, the total had already topped $175,000.
Counter online fundraisers would let Trump’s former opponent Hillary Clinton or porn star Stormy Daniels, who alleged a 2006 affair with Trump, push the button. By Christmas, Clinton’s total reached $100; Daniels’s had collected $1,830.
JANUARY 2020 11
Sharon Harris
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