New Casino Site

Dear Mayor Slay,

The report favoring Cape Girardeau as the best site for a new casino is flawed. It does not take into account the Cape Girardeau smoking ban that includes casinos which will surely pass this April. The report also does not consider the likely exemption of casinos from the Illinois ban this session. A smoke-free Cape Girardeau casino could wind up competing with Missouri and Illinois casinos which allow smoking. This situation, according to St. Louis Federal Reserve economist Tom Garret, would cause a 20 percent decline in casino revenues similar to the losses suffered by the Casino Queen due to the Illinois smoking ban. The report says nothing about this likely scenario.

Please find the Cape Girardeau smoking ban which goes on the ballot this April attached. Also attached is the bill put forward by Chicago representative Daniel Burke lifting the ban on smoking in Illinois casinos.

Sincerely,

Bill Hannegan

314.367.3779

314.315.3779 (cell)