The following is taken from the NDA Member Update newsletter
Nevada passes smoking ban, Team Dart will be affect.
Nevada’s statewide smoking ban took effect on December 8, 2006 prohibiting smoking in most indoor public spaces except casino gaming areas.
According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), more than half of Americans citizens no live in jurisdictions that ban smoking in vars, restaurants and workplaces. In 2006, seven states (Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey and Ohio) plus Puerto Rico and 116 localities enacted smoking bans, bringing the national total to 22 states and 577 municipalities, according to ANR.
Currently, the legal status of the Nevada smoking ban remains up in the air as a challenge, filed by bar owners, is still pending and has resulted in a judge ruling that the measure can only be enforced by civil authorities, no police, and that fines cannot exceed $100. Therefore, some casinos and other businesses in the Las Vegas area are continuing to allow indoor smoking, awaiting a judge’s final order on the law before enforcing the ban.
The Riviera Hotel & Casino, the location for Team Dart, has chosen to enforce the ban on their premises, despite the pending constitutional challenge.. Therefore, there will be no smoking on the tournament floor during Team Dart XXII, April 27 – May 5, including the hallways and lobby of the convention area.
The Riviera issued the following statement that explains their enforcement policies:
“No customer will be allowed to smoke in any corridors, retail areas, convention areas, Kristofer’s Restaurant and Bar, the Buffet, Kady’s, Ristorante, Food Court, any of the show rooms, elevator lobbies, hotel room corridors, front desk lobby or in any offices or any other non-gaming, indoor area. Customers will only be allowed to smoke in the casino proper, at the bars located in the casino and in designated smoking areas on the exterior (outside) of the convention center and pool areas.”
According to the Riviera, anyone who is caught smoking in a nonsmoking area will be confronted and asked to put out their smoking materials. In the event that they do not comply, they will be asked to leave the area and may be assessed a fine up to $100.
The NDA thanks all of our players and operators for their cooperation in this matter, as this is a positive step towards b ringing in media and sponsorship opportunities related to Team Dart. Plus, the new local law will provide a smoke-free environment that many of our players have requested. This will encourage many new players to participate who may have been unable to attend in the past due to the smoking issues.