Smoking ban, economy forces Alton's casino to cut employees (Elgin: budget, jobs)

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Smoking ban, economy forces Alton's casino to cut employees
By Kathleen Haughney
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/08/2008
City officials in Alton have been forced to cut six jobs from next year's budget, in part because of a $1 million revenue loss from the city's casino.
The Fire Department will lay off four firefighters and the Police Department will not fill two currently open slots, Alton Mayor Don Sandidge said.

STLtoday - News - Illinois News

[sgresident]

with too many other things factoring in, i can't believe that they can directly corrulate the job cuts to the smoking ban. I would like to think that if people are losing jobs, paying more for gas and food, that they would have the common sense to not go to the boat!

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I think one reason that they blame it on the smoking ban is that smokers who used to gamble at Alton can just go over to Missouri to gamble.

[Chinolala]

People who gamble, gamble regardless of the economy. Typically, when things are bad, gambling increases, as does drinking and smoking. I bet the smoking ban is the reason for the casinos losing business in Alton.

[illini84]

Yeah, I imagine cities on state lines like East St. Louis are suffering a little bit. People can just ride 1 metro stop more and smoke in a casino, or go smoke and drink in a bar. Cities stuck in the middle of Illinois wouldn't have to experience this.

[aragx6]

I knew from moment one they would struggle because of this.

I'm sure the beautiful new Lumiere and the buzz surrounding it didn't help either.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by illini84

Yeah, I imagine cities on state lines like East St. Louis are suffering a little bit. People can just ride 1 metro stop more and smoke in a casino, or go smoke and drink in a bar. Cities stuck in the middle of Illinois wouldn't have to experience this.

When I went to the Horseshoe in Hammond a couple weeks ago 75-90% of the license plates I saw in the parking garage were from Illinois. That place was packed...

[Drover]

It's not just border casinos that are suffering. Grand Victoria in Elgin reports a 20% drop in patronage since the smoking ban passed.

My brother reports the bowling alley in his town is on its last legs. He doesn't expect it to make it through the summer.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Drover

It's not just border casinos that are suffering. Grand Victoria in Elgin reports a 20% drop in patronage since the smoking ban passed.

My brother reports the bowling alley in his town is on its last legs. He doesn't expect it to make it through the summer.

I have noticed at least 3 bars on the northside that have closed since Jan. 1. I do not know for sure if it is because of the ban or for several reasons, but the ban certainly could have been a factor.

[Robhu]

For us smokers it comes down to this:
Don't spend your cash where you can't flick your ash.