Governor to Sign Smoking Ban Today

Governor Jennifer Granholm will sign Michigan's smoking ban into law sometime today. The ban will take effect in May of 2010.

As we discussed earlier, the ban will not exempt Michigan charitable bingos. The only exemptions will be tobacco specialty stores, cigar bars and the gaming floors of the Detroit casinos. Of course, tribal casinos in Michigan will not be subject to this law and can allow smoking or not on their own.

Outdoor Smoking Areas Remain a Question

Last week, Michigan passed a statewide smoking ban which will outlaw smoking in charitable bingo halls beginning May 1, 2010.

For now, there is still little information regarding the specifics of any allowed outdoor smoking section. Although we believe some accomodations (like a smoking tent) will be allowed for smokers, nothing is likely to materialize until after the bill is officially signed.

We will keep you posted.

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Smoking Ban Passes in Michigan

Yesterday, the Michigan Senate passed a statewide smoking ban (the House had already passed their version) that will ban smoking from Michigan bingos. Starting May 1, 2010, bingos will be forced to go smoke free. The only exemptions to this new law are the gaming floors of the Detroit Casinos, home offices, tobacco specialty shops and cigar bars, and work vehicles.

We will be examining the law carefully in the coming days, and will be sure to bring you specific information as to what will be allowed and not allowed under this law at your bingos. Some questions we'll be looking at:

Will you be able to set up a separate smoking facility or tent outside your bingo hall?

If so, what are the building requirements for these?

What types of bingo equipment (if any) will be needed?

Of course, there will be other questions that come up, and we'll try to keep you informed. Also, stay tuned for articles on how your bingo can best retain your bingo players. Finally, start preparing yourself now for the upcoming changes. Inform your players about what's happening and get their feedback on how to make their smoke-free experience a fun one.

For more information, please see State Legislature passes smoking ban.

Michigan Smoking Ban Update

We're hearing about a lot of renewed discussion taking place on the potential smoking ban in Michigan. Currently, a Senate Committee is examining the possibility of taking up the bill this week. Whether or not Michigan bingos and/or Detroit casinos will be exempt from a possible ban has yet to emerge.

Earlier in the year, the Michigan House passed a smoking ban that exempted Detroit casinos and cigar bars, but did not exempt bingo.

For more information, please see Michigan lawmakers edge closer to possible smoking bam.

Smoking Ban Lifted in Atlantic City Casinos

With the state of Michigan contemplating a smoking ban that may or may not include Detroit Casinos and nonprofit bingo halls, it's interesting that Atlantic City has lifted their ban in area casinos.

As of November 16, gamblers will be allowed to light up again after a one month ban had taken effect. Their City Council has lifted it for at least a year pending further analysis of the economic impact. Based upon the financial outlook for the state and competition from Pennsylvania casinos (which allow smoking), they apparently feared piling on to an already slumping industry.

When will the possible Michigan smoking ban be revisited? And, will they exempt bingos and Detroit casinos from the ban? They might have to in order to keep the playing field level in the face of exempt tribal casinos and future gaming sites that will be built in Ohio.

For more information, please see 12 Months Later / Full ban on smoking likely to stay off table in Atlantic City

Some Concerned About Detroit Casino Payback

While most states require casinos to provide detailed average payback figures for their slot machines, Michigan doesn't. And, this is causing some to ask for more disclosure. No one is claiming that the casinos are being unfair, the payouts can range from 80 to 99 percent of the buyin, but would like to ba able to compare them.

Obviously, players are going to always want a higher percentage of winning returns, but whether this leads much further is doubtful. The current rules were worked out in 1999 when the casinos first got started.

For more information, please see Lucky Detroit casinos don’t have to disclose paybacks