In Arkansas, Pine Bluff Alderman Bruce Lockett has started a ballot drive to prohibit smoking at the Saracen Casino Resort, now under construction in Jefferson County. Recently the city council voted 6-1 against his proposed non-smoking ordinance; Lockett cast the sole dissenting vote.
He said, “The greatest thing that the casino can bring to this community needs to be healthy jobs. You can have a casino, not have smoking and gaming still happens. Let the people’s voices be heard about whether they want a smoke-free environment or whether they want smoking on the gaming floor.”
Lockett said he’s hoping to collect 2,000 signatures by the end of the month. By then, the Saracen annex will be operating and the main casino is set to open in December. If his ballot drive succeeds, the issue would appear on the November 2020 ballot.
Saracen Casino Resort Project Manager Carlton Saffa noted the casino is investing more than $3 million to install an air-exchange system at both the annex and casino. “Every bit of air in this room is changed every 10 minutes. If we believed smoking would infringe upon a quality experience, we would have a different position,” he said.
Saffa added, “I think when this building open in a matter of weeks and people see what kind of experience this provides, the quality of that experience, the jobs and the revenue. I think this will be something in the rearview mirror.”
