The Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking inside casinos and taverns, went into effect three months ago on October 1. Since that time the gaming revenues have dropped an average of 25% statewide as reported in the January issue of the Tavern Times. One statistic cited by the gaming route operators stated that machine play time per customer session has been substantially shortened since the ban went into effect. Smoking patrons that are still going to casinos to play the machines are playing a much shorter amount of time before cashing in and leaving. Since lower gaming revenues also equate to lower gaming taxes being paid, we wonder what our cities that have come to depend heavily on this source of revenue are going to do to cover this shortfall in income. Yet another problem our New Mayor and the Havre Council will have to deal with this year.
“Want to buy a casino?” is a question I have been asked numerous times in the last month. Good luck to our fellow business people with casino operations.
I am sure when the State and Counties realize how their share of the gambling pie has diminished the clean indoor act will quickly be repealed-- save some lungs or save the treasury. mmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteI doubt that Anonymous. It is suprising the power a handfull of do gooder zealots can do when they unite against some deckared evil of society
ReplyDeleteIf smokling is so evil and cost society so much, why not make it illegal all together? It is illegal to smoke pot and you see how well that has stopped people from "harming" themselves
I, for one, am glad smoking is banned in public areas. Once in a while, when all the stars are aligned, I happen down to one of our cities fine local pubs. It is nice going home not smelling of smoke.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that the Spike has pulled a lot of business away from the other bars, not the smoking ban. Nothing wrong with that, just good business sense and seeing what works. How many gaming machines do you see in the spike?
I would ask how many gambling establishments are in Havre? Seems like to much supply for the demand. I think that may have something to do with it.
Like you said anony above ......."once in awhile you go" which is not enough to keep a place in business. don't smoke? Go to Murphys or other non-smoking places
ReplyDeleteState law also limits the number of liqour license you can have in any given populace so in fact there are less places then in the 70's but the ones today do a much better job of advertising and also spend big bucks on casiono signs which no one did in the 70's
Smoking ban is just another example of a few do-gooders dictating to the lives of the majority
Didn't the Vets Cluba already go broke under former Vet management ideas of Mayor Bob and police chief Nystrom?
ReplyDeleteI guess so if thats all the crowd they could gather
Why should a mayor and police chief even be involved with a bar in the first place? and then to have officers ticketing your customers must be a conflict of interest also wouldn't you think?
Point of clarification. I do not, nor have I ever managed or owned a bar, i.e. the VFW Club. As a former military serviceman of 8 years, I am a proud member of the American Legion and I have done a lot of volunteer work there. I am also a member of the Eagles. It is a fact and I am proud of my wife who took a job as the manager of the VFW Club this past summer, of which is a temporary position until the property is sold. It has been and contiues to be a property listed for sale; owed by the VFW Post 497.
ReplyDeleteI was suprised to see all the votes on your poll that thought it was just hunky-dory for the coppers to pull everybody over for any reason at all or even no reason if they were so inclined.
ReplyDelete20 of the 48 voters in the poll said yes, stop them but now I understand where all those votes come from after I see that the Chief and his staff of 18+ officers and dispatchers read this blog. Thanks for the comment chief so we know your here
Which is the temporary position Mr. Nystrom? Her as a manager of the Vets or her as your wife?
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