Rivers On line casino Portsmouth’s opening actually hasn’t gone as mother or father firm Rush Road Gaming had deliberate. After receiving a heap of backlash for permitting indoor smoking throughout the 90,000-square-foot gaming ground, Rivers Portsmouth has introduced new indoor smoking insurance policies.
A “no-smoking” signal inside Rivers On line casino Portsmouth in Virginia informs company that cigarettes aren’t permitted within the part. The on line casino adjusted its smoking guidelines only a week after opening after many company complained that the odor of cigarette smoke is much too pungent. (Picture: Rivers On line casino Portsmouth)
Rivers On line casino Portsmouth opened on January 23. The grand opening festivities for Virginia’s first everlasting on line casino had been rapidly tarred by an abundance of damaging suggestions from patrons who discovered the odor of cigarettes a turn-off.
In response, Rivers introduced it’ll not enable smoking wherever on the on line casino ground. The on line casino now has designated smoking and nonsmoking sections.
In response to suggestions from company and the neighborhood, efficient instantly, Rivers On line casino Portsmouth has modified our smoking coverage,” an announcement from the on line casino defined. “Roughly half of the gaming ground will now be designated as nonsmoking, together with each slots and desk video games.”
Rivers On line casino went on to elucidate that smoking is, and has all the time been, prohibited indoors in every single place off of the gaming ground. As such, the on line casino says 80% of the complicated is smoke-free.
— Rivers On line casino Portsmouth (@RiversCasinoVA) January 30, 2023
Nonsmokers Nonetheless Not Happy
Rivers’ new smoking coverage takes a web page out of the regulatory association in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the place indoor on line casino smoking can also be allowed. In these two states, casinos are permitted to designate sure areas of their gaming flooring for smoking.
Virginia’s clear indoor air legislation exemption afforded to casinos, pari-mutuel racinos, and off-track betting (OTB) parlors. That enables these companies to allow smoking wherever inside. However Rivers Portsmouth now requires that people who smoke solely gentle up in sure gaming zones.
However anti-smoking advocates say it’s not sufficient.
“Smoke is cussed — it doesn’t abide by an indication and keep in a single space. This can be a weak effort to deal with the general public outcry that has outlined the opening week of Rivers On line casino Portsmouth,” opined the advocacy Individuals for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR). ANR is main an effort in Atlantic Metropolis to extinguish indoor smoking sections from the 9 casinos there.
The one answer is to do away with indoor smoking — transfer it exterior. In any other case, on line casino staff and company will proceed to breathe harmful secondhand smoke. Rivers has the ability to make this determination instantly and entice company who wish to get pleasure from every part their on line casino has to supply,” ANR concluded.
“Having a smoking part is like having a peeing part in a pool,” Smokefree Casinos, a mission of the ANR Basis, added on Twitter.
Others Reward Rivers
Although ANR may not assume the smoking change is sufficient, different Rivers On line casino Portsmouth company mentioned it’s no less than a begin.
Individuals spoke and Rivers Portsmouth listened. Nice job,” commented one person on Twitter in response to the Rivers share.
“This could assist rather a lot,” added one other. “Strategy to go Portsmouth!” learn one other response.
A number of others questioned why vapes and cigars are prohibited, however cigarettes are allowed.
“Cigarettes are allowed, however not cigars or vapes. Is senseless,” mentioned a Rivers Portsmouth Twitter follower. “Silly.”
