Jon Macy & Erika Hernandez Indiana University
Research: no negative impact on business activity Restaurants Bars Hotels Hospitality industry across borders Restaurants and bars in a tobacco-growing community
2003: Local smoke-free ordinances in Massachusetts had no effect on bingo revenues : Conflicting findings on the effect of Delaware’s statewide smoke-free air law on gaming revenues at racinos 2008: Local smoke-free ordinances in Kentucky had no effect on charitable gaming revenues 2011: Ohio’s statewide smoke-free air law had no effect on the hospitality industry (including casinos) in Ohio and Kentucky border counties
Massachusetts and Kentucky studies focused on charitable gaming (bingo) Delaware studies had no comparison group and focused on video slot machine revenue Ohio/Kentucky border study included entire hospitality industry Unpublished Illinois study used only 4 years of data total and only 1 year after statewide law 10 years behind research on rest of hospitality industry
Opponents of smoke-free workplace laws continue to argue that they negatively impact gaming revenues Casinos first to be exempted from smoke-free air laws Indiana Legislative Fiscal Impact Statement predicted negative economic consequences More evidence needed to support policy advocacy
OTB site in Fort Wayne, Indiana went smoke- free on June 1, 2007 due to local ordinance OTB sites in Indianapolis and Merrillville, Indiana continue to permit smoking Study objective: test the effect of the law on wagering at Fort Wayne site compared to the Indianapolis and Merrillville control sites
Data Monthly per capita handle (amount wagered) from 2002 to 2009 for the 3 OTB locations Monthly unemployment rates for counties where OTBs were located Analysis Tested for shift and slope changes in per capita handle for each location after June 1, 2007 Tested trends in per capita handle for 2 smoking locations compared to smoke-free location
Seasonally adjusted per capita handle in US$ Fort Wayne smoke-free air law went into effect
No change in trend in per capita handle at any of the 3 OTBs after June 1, 2007 Per capita handle decreased at all 3 OTBs from 2002 to 2009 Unemployment rate was a significant predictor of per capita handle As unemployment rate increased over the study period, per capita handle decreased
No change in trend in per capita amount wagered at Fort Wayne OTB after city implemented a smoke-free air law No change in trend at two comparison locations There is no economic reason for policymakers to exclude OTB facilities from smoke-free legislation Workers and patrons at gaming facilities can be protected from secondhand smoke without fear of negative economic consequences
Co-author & statistician: Erika Hernandez Contributors: Tim Filler, Stan Glantz, Mary Lay, Kosali Simon