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Study: Smoking bans, gambling mix  

Smoking bans don't cause financial hardship to bingo halls and other charitable gambling operations in Kentucky, according to a University of Kentucky study released yesterday.

The findings run counter to the experience of some Louisville bingo supporters, who say there was a huge decline in revenue after metro government began enforcing a strict smoking ban in July 2007 that removed exemptions for the halls.

The study, commissioned by UK's College of Public Health, looked at charitable gambling revenues before and after smoking bans took effect in 13 Kentucky counties, including Jefferson. It acknowledges that there has been a decline in charitable gambling revenue but says a number of other factors -- from unemployment to the high cost of gasoline -- have had an impact.

The study found that total gross revenues, for all charitable gambling in all 13 counties, dropped by an average of $1.5million a quarter after enactment of the bans, an amount the study says is statistically insignificant.

Data for the study came primarily from the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming. The study also used economic data, including unemployment rates and other labor force statistics, from the U.S. Department of Labor.

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