On Tuesday, May 23, the Shreveport City Council voted 4-2 to support a revision of the city’s smoking ban. Ordinance 46 upholds all the 2020 Smokefree Air Act save one; Shreveport’s casino boats will be able to reinstitute smoking in 75% of their gaming area only.
Bally’s Shreveport
This means one floor of each boat will continue to be a non-smoking floor, as will the hotels, pavilions, restaurants, clubs and event spaces.
Since the Shreveport smoking ban (Bossier City does not have one) went into effect, Shreveport’s casinos say they have seen a marked loss of revenue that they attribute to patrons’ inability to smoke.
Sam’s Town Casino, Shreveport.
On Wednesday, District E councilman Dr. Alan Jackson, who was unable to attend the City Council meeting and vote, sent a letter stating he was also supportive of the ordinance revision, giving the council a veto-proof majority.
The effective date of the revision will be June 1, 2023.
