Amid the pandemic, indoor smoking was prohibited in casinos across the United States. This temporary measure became the new reality for some brick-and-mortar casinos, but others, such as Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, have resumed smoking, lifting the three-year ban.

As announced by the Palm Springs Desert Sun, the casino is only one out of three Agua Caliente venues that has taken the decision to resume indoor smoking. Reportedly, the smoking ban was lifted after Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs received “a substantial number of requests.”

While Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs returned smoking on the casino floor, two of the tribe’s other venues, Rancho Mirage and Cathedral City, continue to enforce the smoking ban. The lifting of the smoking ban allows vaping and smoking while smoking cigars and using pipes remains prohibited.

Visitors to Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs can engage in vaping and smoking while on the casino floor. However, the casino doesn’t allow those activities at the sports bar and Cascade Lounge. Additionally, smoking is not allowed within dining areas or at table games.

Undoubtedly, smokers who visit the casino will enjoy seeing the lifted smoking ban. Yet, not everyone agrees with the lifting of the prohibition on smoking on the casino floor. Tim Sigle, a visitor of Agua Caliente went on social media to share his concern about the resumption of smoking at the casino. “They are allowing smoking once again in the casino after four years of stopping it. Shame on them for bringing it back and risking people’s health,” posted Sigle on Facebook.

Smoking Causes Harm to Employees, Visitors

Sigle encouraged people to submit complaints about the return of smoking at Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs. He warned that the resumption of smoking impacts the health of employees who are forced to breathe contaminated air. Moreover, Sigle said that secondhand smoke can cause harm to visitors who are also forced to breathe smoke. “If they want to cater to smokers, they can build a separate room with just smokers can go. The 360 sports bar and lounge have no walls around it and people will be smoking on three sides,” added Sigle.

More than two decades ago, in 1998, California implemented a smoking ban, effectively prohibiting activity in indoor spaces, including casinos. However, the sovereign status of the Tribe meant that the ban did not apply to its casinos.

Similarly, in New Jersey, there is also a smoking ban in effect, but casinos are exempt. While lawmakers in the state are trying to close that loophole, operators across the United States continue to fear smoke bans, claiming impacts on their revenues.

The post California: Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs Resumes Smoking appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The collection of taxes on gambling activities helps deliver a valuable stream of revenue for governments across the globe. Such tax revenue can be dedicated toward educational programs or contribute to the treatment, support and research of problem gambling. Besides the land-based gambling sector, amid the popularity of online gambling activities, iGaming operators also contribute significantly to tax revenue.

Now, judging by reports from local media outlets, Ukraine considers reinstating its 18% tax on turnover, applicable to online gambling and betting operators. Reportedly, the chair of the country’s parliamentary Finance Committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, confirmed the return of the turnover tax on Thursday.

The announcement reportedly came via Telegram and it is expected to help raise valuable revenue. The chair of the Finance Committee reportedly said that the reinstatement of the 18% tax on the turnover of online casino operators is expected to bring some UAH 1.5 billion or $41 million in revenue for a fiscal year.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a Ukrainian MP, issued further details regarding the 18% tax rate. He explained that this 18% tax will target the turnover of the online casino and betting companies, not their revenue. It is yet to be seen how licensed operators in the country will respond to the 18% online gambling tax.

Only recently, the leading iGaming, sports and esports betting operator, GG.Bet, announced it expanded its presence to Ukraine. This week, the company revealed that it secured the necessary licenses to launch its offering in the country, complementing its European growth after its recent launch in the United Kingdom.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, law enforcement recently raided eight illegal gambling dens. Early in June, raids within the Kyiv region were conducted, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) revealed.

The raids resulted in the shutdown of eight illegal gambling locations. In the process, there was seized gambling equipment along with UAH 100,000 ($2,700). The operation was conducted by the ESBU, in collaboration with Kyiv’s regional department of Internal Security and the National Police of Ukraine.

The post Ukraine Resumes 18% Turnover Tax on Online Gambling appeared first on Keno Wizard.