Declining Video Lottery Sales Linked to Smoking Ban
Declining Video Lottery Sales Linked to Smoking Ban Save Email Print
Posted: 10:50 PM Sep 9, 2008
 Last Updated: 11:19 PM Sep 9, 2008
 Reporter: Will Jones
Email Address: Will.Jones@wsaz.com
17 comments
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KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Video lottery machines are open around the clock, but some gambling parlor owners say the machines are staying cold in Kanawha County.

They claim the extended smoking ban is to blame for their declining sales.

Nancy Bulla from the West Virginia Lottery examined sales since the smoking ban went into effect.

"We have seen a dip but its not statewide and quite frankly it cannot be determined whether it's the smoking ban or whether it's the economy general," she said.

However, bar and gambling parlor owners say the smoking ban is killing their business.

To determine if there is a link between the smoking ban and declining video lottery sales, we crunched the numbers of five random video lottery parlors in the county.

When you compare their revenue from June to July, when the smoking ban went into effect, Kelly's Hot Spot in South Charleston lost nearly $4,000.

Bar 101’s revenue dipped by nearly $1,700.

Mimi's in Nitro lost almost $19,000 in a month's time, but that’s not the same story for Sam's Uptown Café, the books show a $650 boost to business, and the Sports Pub in Marmet a $350 increase.

No matter what the numbers are, officials warn it’s too early to draw any conclusions.

"Two months is hardly two years, ask me in two years when the economy doesn’t have a problem," Bulla says.

The West Virginia lottery says video lottery establishments in other counties with a smoking ban have also complained about a decline in sales, but there are some counties where the lottery has seen little or no change with the smoking ban.
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Posted by: annoymus on Sep 28, 2008 at 10:29 AM
how did kelly's hot spot loose $4000 revenue because of the smoking ban and then get sited for smoking??
Posted by: Voter on Sep 11, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Duh, what did they expect would happen? Non-smokers are a minority in the gambling venues. It's only going to get worse.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 11, 2008 at 02:04 PM
I don't understand why we are in war and helping another country to be free. We do not live in a free country any longer. They are trying to control our every move. If they would ban ALCOHOL we wouldn't have to worry about so many drunk drivers now would we . But the same people banning smoking as drinkers so they don't want to ban that .
Posted by: Hey Na on Sep 11, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Its funny how you call people hypocrites for complaining about the smoke, yet you complain about kids. So who is the hypocrite. JUST STEP OUTSIDE FOR 3 MINUTES WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL, YOU CAN STILL SMOKE JUST DONT TAKE ME AND MY BRATY KIDS WITH YOU.
Posted by: austin on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:05 AM
ill spend my money in another county or state this hilter county(kanawha) is going to go broke and then all the no smokers can have a great time with higher taxs on their property and pay more for there food and maybe lose ther jobs because the state will have to cut back on everything they enjoy,stupid people,you cant control all of us all the time and have your way of life continue,for we the smokers will not support your way of life anymore,leave you alone or move to another state and make your own laws oh wait they did that in texas and took 400 kids away from the moms and dads for no reason!Look in your on house befor you try to run mine!
Posted by: Danny on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Why dont the bar owners turn all there bars into Clubs charge a $1.00 for a membership and in becoming a member you are informed there is smoking in the Club. People would then understand that they are coming into a smoking enviroment. That would leave it up to the person if they wanted to be around smoke or not and keep the state out of it.The state raises taxes on tobacco then tries to tell you where to use it. Wonder where ALL the extra tax money goes? or should I say whos pocket gets it. And to top it off Im a non- smoker.I hope the bar owners win Im sick of BIG BROTHER breathing down my back.
Posted by: Duped on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:43 AM
This is great gambling id an addiction just like drugs and smoking it should all be outlawed and soon will be. just not the way we think it is being done by Hitler type tactics
Posted by: BILL on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Icannot help to notice the smoking ban in Kanawha Co and wonder perhaps when is the Cabell Health Dept. going to take the initiative and re-consider its decision on a partial ban and make it a 100% ban in bars, clubs, etc. I for one refuse to go into a Video Lottery location because of the close proximity of the machines to each other and with the smokers not taking into consideration others that do not smoke. COME ON CABELL COUNTY..your citizens and non-smokers are asking you take your responsibility and come out with a full smoking ban...
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:31 AM
why not let owners decide who will be smoke free and then customers can decide which one tto go to easy fix if ya ask me
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:27 AM
WHERE ARE THE PLACES THAT HAVE THE MACHINES ON ALL NIGHT LONG ?
Posted by: Don on Sep 10, 2008 at 08:12 AM
The #1 addictive dope of the USA is nicotine and some tobacco companies have increased it in some products to keep you hooked.It's also kills more addicts than Crack or any other dope.Those who enjoy their dope do not have the right to give it to me.Smoke or crack or the rest of their dope should all be legal or illegal according if you're hooked or not.Lung cancer shouldn't be given to the non smoker just because you want it,the children in your home deserve a chance to breath clean air and not get hooked and die from lung cancer,or do you care enough to think of them first over your "pleasure"?if it was crack or pot would you care?Deny all you want but deep down you know whats right.
Posted by: na on Sep 10, 2008 at 07:48 AM
Why isnt there some sort of compromise. such as a non smoking section. Smokers have rights too. I stopped going places where no smoking is allowed. Too darn many hypocrites there. I wish resturants had a no bratty children ban on them. If im in a resturant with someone who has squalling brats with them I ask the management to please move them to another section so the people surrounding them can eat in peace. Last week a woman had a baby with her that had a buldging smelly diaper screaming its head off and she sit and eat,ignoring it let it stink up the whole place and ruined dinner for several people trying to enjoy a meal. So lets make all public places restricted to no kids too if youre going to restrict smoking. Id rather smell smoke any day than listen to a bunch of brats or hypocrites harping on the smoke. and to think the USA used to be a free country. thats a laugh!
Posted by: Mike on Sep 10, 2008 at 07:28 AM
I used to play those machines. Smoking ban has nothing to do with why I quit. Those machines are money pits, players have no fair chance at winning and, in this economy, who can afford to give their money away?
Posted by: Vicky on Sep 10, 2008 at 06:57 AM
I don't agree with the smoking ban but don't you think increased gas prices and food prices have something to do with people not having money to waste at gaming parlors????
Posted by: MO on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:26 AM
I am a smoker....and I agree with the smoking ban. I believe you should have respect enough to step outside and smoke so that others dont get cancer because they want to go out and enjoy nightlife too. You are selfish if you dont believe the same thing. I do believe that business on lotto sales has gone down with the smoking ban because it seems that the only people that play...also smoke, however, who cares...on the other hand west virginia lottery is no longer taking the earnings of poor souls that already do not have enough money to gamble away.
Posted by: MrObvious on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:01 AM
Bow down people, bow to the power of the government. We are in charge, we know best. We will tell you what to do. Freedom smeedom, we are omnipotent...
Posted by: Bob on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Illinois casinos are taking a beating since the Illinois ban, with most of them located on the state line. The Illinois lawmakers are becoming the laughingstock of the surrounding states.
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