Smoker goes outside Illinois to gamble

With reference to a Nov. 14 Associated Press article published titled “Casinos blame smoking ban for drop on revenue,” I felt compelled to put my 2 cents in.

There's no doubt that the economy has had a dramatic effect on discretionary spending, but people will make other sacrifices to enjoy a little escape for entertainment and relaxation. Illinois riverboats can provide that little escape. It's not whether you win or, lose it's entertainment. I thoroughly enjoy casinos for a night out. However, as a smoker, I no longer frequent Illinois riverboats. I go to other casinos outside Illinois, and I'm sure many other Illinois residents do likewise.

I not saying smoking is a good thing, only that it's a reality: Millions of people still smoke. For many of us smokers, gambling and smoking together ease the stress of both winning and losing. I for one am certainly not going to play at a casino, especially if I'm losing, and I can't have a cigarette. If I have to leave the table or machine to go outside, I may as well go home I'm money ahead.

Darlene Villanueva

Schaumburg