When the Angel of the Winds Casino Resort near Arlington, Washington reopens, as early as next week, it will be smokeless. The only place where patrons who want to smoke will be able to indulge their habit will be outside of the casino, hotel, bowling alley and entertainment area.
The respiratory nature of Covid-19 and the health of the workforce had a lot to do with the resort management’s request to the Stillaguamish Tribe that the change in policy be adopted.
Casino General Manager Travis O’Neil told the Everett Herald, “As we worked on our coronavirus response plan, it was part of the conversation. We understand this virus affects the respiratory system. ” He added, “This is a bold statement that we will take the team members’ and the guests’ health into consideration.”
The casino, like others in the state, has been closed since Governor Jay Inslee issued an executive order that also closed other casinos, eateries, taverns and banned gatherings. State law doesn’t apply to tribal lands but the state’s tribal leaders have chosen to follow the governor’s lead in shuttering them properties.
The six weeks the property was closed allow the staff to air it out and evict the tobacco smells, said O’Neil.
Although the announced change generated much praise on the casino’s Facebook page, some patrons promised that they wouldn’t be returning. One wrote: “Used to go all the time because it was the only place to have fun, relax and smoke if I wanted to. Referred a lot of high rollers there,” shared one woman. “Will have to find another casino to go to. What civil liberties will they be taking away next?”
