Letter: Smoke-free zones in casinos can be done

Friday, Jan. 20, 2006 | 8:10 a.m.

Regarding Patrick Doyle's Jan. 16 letter, "Smoke or no smoke, people will come to Vegas."

Freedom goes both ways. Yes, people have a to right to smoke, but they don't have the right to force their smoke into someone else's lungs. (I believe secondhand smoke can give one cancer).

It's interesting to see people working the slots with oxygen bottles, smoking. Is it because it doesn't matter anymore to have clear lungs?

I think some of the casino CEOs should take lessons from one of the most successful casinos in the country, and that's Foxwoods in Mystic, Conn. The casino is run by the Mashantucket Pequot Indians and from the day it opened up it had areas and certain floors that were smoke-free. I have friends who go there and they are in the midst of renovating some of these areas.

All of our casinos here are making big bucks -- I'm sure they could afford some of those dollars to add some smoke-free areas. People who don't smoke also like to gamble and drink.

There is another casino, called Mohegan Sun, just 10 miles away from Foxwoods. I gave you these examples of casinos who are interested in giving people a choice. They certainly don't have the take it or leave it attitude.

Phil Fiol

Las Vegas