Bodog Beat

Cigar smoking and casino gambling go hand in hand at most Las Vegas Casinos.

When the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was slapped with a class action (second-hand smoke) lawsuit last week by one of its dealers, the casino gambling industry took a brief moment to consider the possible consequences of having to ask its customers to butt out while playing their favorite casino games.

Could smoking be banned from Vegas casinos?

Kanie Kastroll, a casino table games dealer at the Wynn, filed a class action status federal lawsuit last Tuesday and is alleging the casino encourages patrons to light up and disciplined workers if they complained. Kastroll is seeking damages of more than $5 million.

While other casinos in Las Vegas have already taken measures to reduce the amount of apparent second-hand smoke on their gaming floors (installing expensive but effective air filtration systems), it would appear the Wynn has not followed suit.

According to Chicago-based class action law firm Kamber Edelson, who has been hired by Kastroll to handle this case, other Wynn employees have also experienced health issues.

"Dozens of Wynn employees were interviewed over the past six months, and the type of health problems ranged from headaches and asthma to lung cancer," Edelson said.

Huh. What do you think? Is this just a simple matter of the Wynn installing a better air filtration system or is this the beginning of the end for smoking in Las Vegas casinos?

Read the article in Bodog's online casino, where smoking has and will always be YOUR call. Then head on over to the online blackjack tables and try your luck against the dealer!