Audience: This panel presentation will interest those who live in or near licensed gaming communities and are seeking (1) to strengthen their existing smokefree law to include gaming facilities; or (2) to pass a first smokefree law that covers all workplaces, including gaming facilities.

Key Points: 1) Successful campaigns, including those highlighted in this panel presentation, are carried out by building capacity and collaborating with workers. 2) Workers are the best messengers to carry the health message to educate their communities on their unique exposure to secondhand smoke. 3) Opposition arguments of economic loss carry much more weight when smokefree debates center around casinos. As a result, it is critical to balance and/or trump their assertions with a strong, diverse grassroots base.

Learning Objectives: Panel presenters will share the challenges they faced during their smokefree campaigns and how they achieved success despite a heavy presence by the opposition. Presenters will discuss the makeup of their coalitions and how a diverse coalition helped to support their efforts. Audience members will be able to apply the suggestions to their own campaigns as appropriate for their communities.

Benefits: Many smokefree advocates are intimidated about approaching casinos. This panel presentation will encourage advocates, particularly in gaming towns, to continue their efforts for tobacco policy change. Audience participants will gain deeper understanding of the challenges and successes that may be associated with smokefree casino campaigns and the asset of having strong casino employee involvement.