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Aug 26, 2005 4:38 pm US/Central
Charities: Smoking Ban Affects Charitable Gambling
Bemidji, Minn. (AP) ―
Bar owners have long criticized smoking bans for costing them customers. Now, some charities are arguing that fewer customers also mean less money for charitable gambling.
"I can't dispute that smoking is a bad health problem," said King Wilson, executive director of Allied Charities of Minnesota, "But smoking bans are hurting charitable gambling operations."
Wilson spoke Thursday night to about a dozen representatives of charitable gambling organizations at the Bemidji American Legion in Beltrami County, which has a smoke-free ordinance.
Ken Brandt of the Bemidji American Legion said charitable gambling receipts dropped by half since the smoking ban was adopted.
Wilson argues that falling sales have a compound effect on charitable gambling.
"If sales drop 25 percent, then lawful purposes expenditures will drop even more as bottom-line expenses continue," he said.
He cited falling revenue in Hennepin County, which has a full smoking ban for bars and restaurants.
"In looking at pull tab and other charitable gambling activities for April and May in Hennepin County, sales are down 20 percent," Wilson said.
Charitable gambling through pull tabs has been legal in Minnesota bars since 1981.
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