Tuesday, March 22, 2011

After three hours of debate state lawmakers passed a bill that would ban smoking on the floor of state owned casinos. This comes nine months after a state wide smoking ban went into effect that exempted state owned casinos.

The state wide smoking ban lawmakers passed last year exempted state owned casinos. The amended version of House Bill 2340 would lift that exemption and ban smoking in the casinos. Casino representatives from Peninsula Gaming say a ban would hurt revenue. Peninsula is building a multimillion dollar casino near Mulvane.

Governor Sam Brownback says it's only fair the ban include state owned casinos.

"If the state is going to say you can't smoke in private businesses, then you shouldn't be able to smoke in a state run casino. I think it's very hypocritical to have something like that," said Brownback.

Final house action is scheduled for Wednesday. Approval would send the bill to the senate.