Kansas and Missouri May Introduce Casino Smoking Bans

Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) has proposed a bill to ban smoking in state-owned casinos in Kansas and Missouri in 2025. 

CEASE claims that it has the backing of many support groups and is confident the proposal will become law. Joe Hafley, founder of the group, says:

“85% of Kansans and Missourians do not smoke. We have lots and lots of support from different groups, American Heart, American Lung, Americans for Non-Smokers Rights.”

If the bill passes, it will affect all land-based casinos in Kansas, except those owned by native tribes, like the 7th Street Casino. Many customers are already expressing their views on the proposed bills.

Quotes from Casino Patrons

One Mellisa Dancer commented, “I probably wouldn’t go as much because there’s no kids around and that was the whole reason why banning it in restaurants and stuff cause there were kids around. This is like the only place we can escape without kids. They should not ban smoking in casinos.”

“I smoke myself and I’m about to quit so that would probably be a good deal. Everybody won’t be breathing it, inhaling it, and no secondhand smoke,” said Mattie Coleman, who was visiting 7th Street Casino on Wednesday.

Penn Entertainment Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations Jeff Morris spoke on the bill, clarifying that its subsidiary casinos in Kansas plan to accommodate both smoking and non-smoking customers. He states that their establishments have high ceilings, state-of-the-art ventilation systems, and separate smoking areas.

“The real power at the end of the day on this issue rests with our customers who can vote with their pocketbooks if they feel like we’re not doing a good enough job catering to their needs. It’s a balance and one that we feel the marketplace should determine, particularly in such a competitive environment with other gaming facilities nearby and in neighboring states.”

How Soon Could the Smoking Ban Be Implemented?

Missouri Lawmakers return to the state capitol on January 8, 2025, for the new legislative session, while Kansas lawmakers will seat five days later, on the 13th.

“I’m waiting for session to start then once we find out who is on the health committee, try to talk to each one of those and go from there,” said Hafley, who plans to attend the Kansas Statehouse for an advocacy day event on Jan. 21 and then the Missouri Statehouse for another event on February 3.

“They get it on their clothes and bring it home to their families and their children and wives and spouses. You don’t want them to hug you or anything like that. It’d be nice to not have to take a shower after the day, when I get off work, as soon as I get home.”