Blackjack Dealers File Smoke Lawsuit Against Wynn Casino
Smoking lawsuit
Las Vegas casinos are among the few places left in the United States where smoking bans have very little meaning.
In spite of the fact that many casinos put up signs insisting that smoking is not allowed in their game floors, these signs are mostly for show, and many smokers choose to ignore casino etiquette and happily puff away as they gamble.
While non-smoking gamblers are able to move away from smokers, and to find places in a casino where the air is a bit fresher, dealers and other casino employees don’t have this freedom. They have to stay in one spot, putting up with smokers as they oversee craps tables or deal blackjack card games.
The croupiers at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas have had enough smoke. The lawsuit actually began in October 2009, when dealer Kanie Kastroll arguing that her exposure to second hand smoke while at work constitutes a health hazard.
A federal judge recently denied a motion on the part of Wynn Casino to have the case dismissed; Wynn’s lawyers had tried to argue that the casino has no obligation, under Nevada law, to protect their employees from the dangers of second-hand smoke. In fact, the lawsuit may now turn into a class-action suit, representing all current and former non-smoking Wynn employees.
Meanwhile, the Wynn Casino is facing another class action lawsuit from blackjack dealers who are upset with the casino’s requirement that they share their tips with casino managers.
What’s gambling without smoking? Okay, its still gambling. But if lady luck is at my side, I don’t want to step outside for a smoke and I can’t focus while I’m jonesing for my next puff.
If dealers don’t want to inhale second hand smoke, they shouldn’t work in a casino that allows smoking. It’s like being a teacher and complaining that you have to deal with screaming kids all day long…
the casinos just dont care, even if they wanted to allow smoking at tables to keep you lazy and spoiled smokers happy, the casinos can and should install MILLIONS of dollars worth of state of the art industrial strength air cleaners ! they should be installed everywhere throughout their properties! but they dont do it! why,not cuz they cant afford it, its cuz they dont care! We need a lawsuit to make them care, to make it cheaper for them to prevent health problems than pay for it afterwards. RIght now casino owners are so greedy theyd rather have a billion sitting in the bank than to spend any of it to protect their employees from smoking related health problems!(I am a former dealer that will not go back to dealing because of all the smoke, and yet I really don’t know what other career im qualified to do.)
What’s gambling without smoking? Okay, its still gambling. But if lady luck is at my side, I don’t want to step outside for a smoke and I can’t focus while I’m jonesing for my next puff.
If dealers don’t want to inhale second hand smoke, they shouldn’t work in a casino that allows smoking. It’s like being a teacher and complaining that you have to deal with screaming kids all day long…
the casinos just dont care, even if they wanted to allow smoking at tables to keep you lazy and spoiled smokers happy, the casinos can and should install MILLIONS of dollars worth of state of the art industrial strength air cleaners ! they should be installed everywhere throughout their properties! but they dont do it! why,not cuz they cant afford it, its cuz they dont care! We need a lawsuit to make them care, to make it cheaper for them to prevent health problems than pay for it afterwards. RIght now casino owners are so greedy theyd rather have a billion sitting in the bank than to spend any of it to protect their employees from smoking related health problems!(I am a former dealer that will not go back to dealing because of all the smoke, and yet I really don’t know what other career im qualified to do.)