Shareholders push casinos to reassess indoor smoking

A new strategy has emerged in the battle to ban smoking in casinos. Shareholders of three major casino companies will vote on proposals to study the costs associated with indoor smoking and the potential savings of going smoke-free. The proposals, sponsored by a nonprofit health care network and an advocacy group, have been included in the proxy materials distributed to shareholders, despite the opposition from the casinos. States like Nevada and New Jersey have already prohibited indoor smoking but made exceptions for casinos. Research suggests that smoke-free casinos generate more revenue.