Kanawha County residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposal from Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Nitro to allow smoking in a designated indoor area, despite the county’s Clean Indoor Air regulation.
The Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health approved a 30-day public comment period starting Monday, March 24, regarding the casino’s request to permit smoking in a sealed-off room with around 150 slot machines and a separate HVAC system. Casino operator Delaware North says the change would help the facility remain competitive with out-of-state casinos that allow indoor smoking, such as Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Ashland, Kentucky.
Health organizations including the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society oppose the exemption, citing serious risks from secondhand smoke.
