VFW says anti-smoking ordinance hurting gambling
February 5, 2005
WEST FARGO, N.D. – A veterans’ group here says it will have less cash to give to charities because gambling has dropped with the city’s new smoking ban.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars building was forced to go smoke-free Dec. 15 after voters approved an ordinance in the November election allowing smoking at six bars in the city.
VFW Commander Jim Hapala said the club is making enough money to keep the doors open, but won’t have enough extra cash to continue all its charitable donations.
“It’s definitely going to be less than it has been,” Hapala said.
Among other donations, the VFW gives $40,000 yearly for the community swimming pool and about $10,000 for the American Legion baseball team. It has bought fire trucks for the city in the past.
After the ban took effect, the bar received some new nonsmoking customers, but many smokers disappeared, said Hapala.
“They never even came back,” he said. “It was like they all left town.”
The smokers’ exodus hit gambling hard, said William Tuff, senior vice commander.
“People who play tickets and blackjack are usually the ones with other vices like smoking,” Tuff said.
Gambling already was a tough business due to competition and changes to state laws, Hapala noted.
“The smoking ban is probably the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said.
Hapala said the VFW will regroup to find ways to get people back in the door.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/10826696.htm
