Oneida Casino In Green Bay Wisconsin
GREEN BAY - The three Oneida Nation casinos in the Green Bay area that recently reopened have prohibited smoking inside.
Brandon Stevens, vice chairman of the Nation, said it was simply a matter of logistics.
“Masks are mandatory (inside the casinos), making it a lot more difficult to smoke in the first place,” he said.
The Oneida Casino, 2020 Airport Drive, Ashwaubenon; Irene Moore Activity Center, 2100 Airport Drive, Ashwaubenon; and West Mason casino, 2522 W. Mason St., Green Bay, will reopen at 8 a.m. Oneida Casino in Green Bay, Wisconsin has a 36,000 square foot casino floor with 850 slots, 25 table games, large bingo room and Hotel. Open daily 24 hours. The Oneida Casino is a medium sized casino near the airport with large open spaces and high ceilings to create a wonderful light and fun atmosphere. Oneida Casino, Green Bay, WI. 18,309 likes 250 talking about this 63,928 were here. Enjoy an experience filled with thrills & adventure! Oneida Casino offers free entertainment, non-stop gaming. Oneida Casino, Green Bay: Address, Phone Number, Oneida Casino Reviews: 3/5. ONEIDA RESERVATION - The Oneida Nation will resume limited operations at three of its casino buildings on May 26, two months after shutting down to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
Stevens added that the ban also makes sense now because COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and smoking may exasperate the problem.
Bobbi Webster, Oneida Nation public relations director, said it’s too early to tell what economic impact the smoking ban may have, whether negative, positive or none at all.
She said there might be indicators in a month or so.
Meanwhile, the American Lung Association is applauding the ban.
“This policy will protect the health of workers and customers from dangerous secondhand smoke and e-cigarette emissions, and we call for the permanent adoption of this policy,” the association said in a statement.
Stevens said the tribal council will look at once again allowing smoking “down the road.”
Wisconsin banned smoking at indoor businesses 10 years ago, but tribes as sovereign nations have jurisdiction over their lands, the American Lung Association stated.
The association also applauded the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Indians for banning smoking at its casino in Bowler.
Ho-Chunk gaming in Madison was the first tribal-owned casino to ban smoking five years ago, the association said.
“We strongly urge other casinos in Wisconsin to follow the lead of these tribes,” the association stated.
Tobacco is an important part of Oneida Nation culture. The Nation is planning a tobacco burning ceremony this Thursday, but Stevens said there’s a dichotomy between using the leaf for religious events and for recreation.
He said the natural Native American tobacco is used to pray with when it burns as smoke and prayers go up to the Creator.
The Oneida Nation casinos had been closed since mid-March because of the pandemic and had reopened May 26.
“As we begin recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope to do so with the support of our greater community,” the Nation said in a statement. “Every business in our communities have been impacted by the pandemic and are seeking recovery and we support all efforts towards re-building these businesses.”
Frank Vaisvilas is a Report For America corps member based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette covering Native American issues in Wisconsin. He can be reached at 920-228-0437 or fvaisvilas@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.
OTHER NEWS:
Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin site today with one of our special offers and support local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Oneida Nation casinos in Green Bay area reopen smoke-free amid coronavirus pandemic
© Ebony Cox, Ebony Cox/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin A woman gambles on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Oneida Casino in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. The Oneida Casino reopened on Tuesday. There are different policies and procedures put in place to keep gamblers safe. Temperatures are scanned once you enter the building, every other seat for most machines are blocked off for social distancing purposes and machines are cleaned frequently. Ebony Cox/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinGREEN BAY - The three Oneida Nation casinos in the Green Bay area that recently reopened have prohibited smoking inside.
Brandon Stevens, vice chairman of the Nation, said it was simply a matter of logistics.
“Masks are mandatory (inside the casinos), making it a lot more difficult to smoke in the first place,” he said.
Stevens added that the ban also makes sense now because COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and smoking may exasperate the problem.
Bobbi Webster, Oneida Nation public relations director, said it’s too early to tell what economic impact the smoking ban may have, whether negative, positive or none at all.
She said there might be indicators in a month or so.
Meanwhile, the American Lung Association is applauding the ban.
“This policy will protect the health of workers and customers from dangerous secondhand smoke and e-cigarette emissions, and we call for the permanent adoption of this policy,” the association said in a statement.
Stevens said the tribal council will look at once again allowing smoking “down the road.”
Wisconsin banned smoking at indoor businesses 10 years ago, but tribes as sovereign nations have jurisdiction over their lands, the American Lung Association stated.
The association also applauded the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Indians for banning smoking at its casino in Bowler.
Ho-Chunk gaming in Madison was the first tribal-owned casino to ban smoking five years ago, the association said.
“We strongly urge other casinos in Wisconsin to follow the lead of these tribes,” the association stated.
Tobacco is an important part of Oneida Nation culture. The Nation is planning a tobacco burning ceremony this Thursday, but Stevens said there’s a dichotomy between using the leaf for religious events and for recreation.
He said the natural Native American tobacco is used to pray with when it burns as smoke and prayers go up to the Creator.
Oneida Hotel And Casino In Green Bay Wisconsin
The Oneida Nation casinos had been closed since mid-March because of the pandemic and had reopened May 26.
“As we begin recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope to do so with the support of our greater community,” the Nation said in a statement. “Every business in our communities have been impacted by the pandemic and are seeking recovery and we support all efforts towards re-building these businesses.”
Frank Vaisvilas is a Report For America corps member based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette covering Native American issues in Wisconsin. He can be reached at 920-228-0437 or fvaisvilas@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.
OTHER NEWS:
Hotels By Oneida Casino In Green Bay Wisconsin
Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin site today with one of our special offers and support local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Oneida Nation casinos in Green Bay area reopen smoke-free amid coronavirus pandemic