Anti-smoking fanatics have forced the Tri-State Racetrack and Casino in West Virginia to implement a complete smoking ban. As a result, casino gambling revenues are off by almost twenty percent, hurting state coffers at a time when the state budget is facing a severe deficit.
Rich Tesler, the executive director of Tri-State, says slot machine revenue will is projected to drop $11.3 million over the current fiscal year from last.
“If that’s correct, the state will lose close to $6.2 million in tax dollars from slots because of the smoking ban,” he said.
Some players said they stopped coming as frequently because they felt they were denied their right to choose to smoke by the law.
