In the News

Tribune Local Des Plaines, May 13, 2011

Rivers Casino, seen under construction in this March photo, is seeking to become the first LEED certified casino in the country. (Jennifer Delgado\Tribune)

Rivers Casino officials won’t say if they’re changing plans to accommodate indoor smoking if proposed legislation passes the Senate next week.

The Des Plaines-based gaming facility is shooting to be the first LEED-certified casino in the country — a feat not achieved by other gambling sites because indoor smoking typically makes it impossible to reach the status.

Set to open in mid-July, the casino plans to have two outdoor smoking patios with TVs, fans and heaters, thick-cushioned seating, green screens blocking traffic and a fireplace.

The Senate Executive Committee could vote next week on the bill, which would allow smoking in special gaming rooms. The measure passed the House in April. The Smoke-free Illinois Act went into effect in 2008 and prohibits smoking in nearly all public areas and workplaces.

“We are not going to comment on proposed legislation as we are focused right now on getting the casino open,” said Jodie Shpritz, casino spokesperson.

Other green features include in-house recycling program for patrons, green walls and LED lights on every floor in the parking garage. Casino officials have said they will most likely reach the silver level in the LEED certification, but their goal is gold.

There are some provisions that make it possible for buildings to have indoor smoking spots and reach LEED certification, but it is rare in the U.S., said Brendan Owens, vice-president of LEED technical development for the U.S. Green Building Council.

For example, smoking can be allowed in special rooms as long as smoke doesn’t contaminate air in the other parts of the building. Complications with ventilation typically arise making it hard to accomplish, he added.

“They’re pretty onerous,” Owens said of the requirements. “The easiest and least expensive thing you can do (to reach LEED certification) is prohibit smoking in the building.”

He added: “You can’t just say the casino floor of a casino is a smoking room. If…they don’t ban smoking on the casino floor, they’re not going to be able to achieve LEED certification.”

Area officials are divided on the bill. Both senators whose districts cover Des Plaines said they oppose the bill for health reasons while Des Plaines Mayor Martin Moylan believes it could help rake in more money for the city and casino.

Senators Dan Kotowski, D-Park Ridge, and Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, said the bill would impose second-hand smoke on employees. They both predict it would face a contentious battle in committee, especially when many senators stood behind the Smoke-Free Act, they said.

Though proponents of the bill say gamblers have been fleeing to neighboring states like Iowa, Indiana and Missouri to smoke and place their bets, Garrett said there’s no proof to back that up.

“That’s an assumption some people are making. I’ve never seen any hard data that proves that,” Garrett said. “We may even have attracted those who wouldn’t come” because of smoking.

The state has lost roughly $771 million in taxes since the smoking ban went in to effect, said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Gaming and Casino Association, which supports the legislation.

If the bill passes the Senate, Gov. Pat Quinn will review it, though he has long supported the Smoke Free Act, said George Sweeney, spokesman for the governor.

Des Plaines Mayor Martin Moylan said the casinos have suffered long enough and need to compete with neighboring states. There are ventilation systems that could purify indoor air from the smoke, making it cleaner than outside air, Moylan said.

“You have to have an even playing field,” Moylan said. “There’s smoking (allowed) in Indiana and they’re taking our gamblers.”