US judge defends casino smoking ban
14th February, 2008
A judge in the US state of New Jersey has made a landmark ruling in the case of a casino worker who developed lung cancer after exposure to second-hand smoke at work.
Judge Cosmo Giovinazzi found that ten years of working in an enclosed, smoke-filled casino gambling environment was one of the key factors in Chinese-born Kam Wong contracting the disease.
His preliminary decree is likely to have far-reaching implication across America and beyond, with numerous global casino operators voicing concerns that indoor smoking bans are having a negative impact on their revenue.
However, Ms Wong's attorney, Lawrence Mintz, welcomed the decision and said that it upheld the rights of staff who work alongside high-rolling jackpot winners - many of whom chain-smoke while gambling.
"She never in her life was exposed to any tobacco products outside of work," Mr Mintz affirmed. "She never smoked, her husband of many years never smoked, her family never smoked … But there was smoke all around her."
The Illinois Casino Gaming Association recently blamed falling profits at its nine casinos on that state's smoking ban.
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