Westgate's New Non-Smoking Policy a Landmark Decision for Right2Breathe

Flemington, New Jersey, April 7, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​According to a published report submitted by the Associated Press last week, smoking will no longer be permitted at one of Las Vegas’s largest sports books; The Westgate Las Vegas. The Las Vegas casino property announced the activation of a non-smoking policy inside all areas of the race and large-scale sports book, including the betting windows. Right2Breathe™ co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Tim Charlet believes their landmark decision paves the path for future casinos to follow – ensuring that all patrons and casino employees have better access to cleaner breathable air and can reduce the onset of non-curable pulmonary diseases including COPD.

The Right2Breathe™ Campaign is a nonprofit, tax-exempt IRS Section 501 (c) (3) organization based in Flemington, NJ that was co-founded in July 2014 by Joe Morrison and Tim Charlet; two second-generation Drag Racers who have personal experience as caregivers for family members with pulmonary disease including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Their Right2Breathe™ Project is targeted to a passionate fan-base of over 50 million individuals in the United States; who share a common passion for motorsports and automotive industry as the organizational co-founders that due to their vocation or lifestyle choices are at high-risk for developing respiratory medical conditions; the largest impact being smoking tobacco products and the inhalation of second hand smoke by non-smokers.

"25 percent of COPD diagnosis is attributed to people that have smoked less than 100 cigarettes during their life. There are legitimate reasons why non-profit organizations like ours lobby to remove smoking from indoor facilities. It really breaks down to a fundamental human right - Everybody has the right to breathe."

Tim Charlet, CMO - Right2Breathe

"Casino properties in Las Vegas and across the globe have been pressured for quite some time by several groups to either reduce smoking areas in casinos or make improvements to outdated and antiquated ventilation systems for better circulation of clean air," noted Tim Charlet, the Chief Marketing Officer of Right2Breathe™. "The decision of Westgate Hotel and Casino to ban smoking in their sports book – arguably the largest area of a casino that typically permits smoking of cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products is indeed a great first step. We are hopeful other Vegas casino properties will see the benefits of improving indoor air quality for their patrons as well as their employees."

Improving indoor air quality for guest comfort is not the only concern that casino properties face. The potential of litigation facing employers that permits smoking in their properties by existing or current employees is another reason for casino properties to consider reexamining their indoor smoking policies. In 2012, U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance in Louisiana dismissed a suit claiming Caesars Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas was responsible for the cancer death of a dealer at its Harrah’s hotel-casino in New Orleans.

The suit filed by Denise Bevrotte claimed Harrah’s New Orleans had failed to protect employees from second-hand cigarette and cigar smoke. The suit complained her son, Maceo Bevrotte Jr., a Harrah’s dealer for 15 years and a non-smoker, had contracted leukemia because of exposure to smoke at work and then died in 2010. Although the litigation was dismissed, the facts remain that smoking and second hand smoke can cause damage to the human respiratory system and in many cases, lead to a diagnosis of COPD.

"The 2012 law suit was dismissed due to the legal team's failure to show a link between leukemia and second-hand smoke," Charlet indicated. "Today, the evidence is more compelling than ever that tobacco smoke can lead to other non-curable respiratory illnesses – including COPD. It's estimated that there are 24 million American's who live with COPD on a daily basis, with more than half of those caused by smoking or being exposed to tobacco smoke for extended periods of time. However, 25 percent of COPD diagnosis is attributed to people that have smoked less than 100 cigarettes during their life. There are legitimate reasons why non-profit organizations like ours lobby to remove smoking from indoor facilities. It really breaks down to a fundamental human right – Everybody has the right to breathe."

Westgate Las Vegas Vice President of Race and Sports Operations Jay Kornegay stated in the Associated Press report dated March 31st, 2016, “Westgate is just trying to keep up with the times by banning smoking, especially as public calls for non-smoking spaces have grown louder over the years.” However, Right2Breathe™ CMO Tim Charlet believes their decision to make their sportsbook smoke free could trigger a significant growth in new business.

"Both Joe Morrison (Right2Breathe™ CEO) and I compete in the National Hot Rod Association and race in Las Vegas four times each year," Charlet concluded. "We have a choice as to where to stay in Las Vegas, as do the other 1,000 race teams and 25,000 out of town race fans who attend these events and support the Right2Breathe™ Project. Now that Westgate has taken the proactive step to protect their patron's right to breathe, our team feels much more comfortable staying and entertaining guest at The Westgate. We're confident that The Westgate's decision will gain momentum to other Las Vegas properties. And quite frankly, it's about time."

About the Right2Breathe™ Project

It is our belief that ‘Everybody has the Right2Breathe™’. It’s our mission to ensure everybody we reach has the appropriate education and resources to reduce their chances of being diagnosed with any respiratory illness – or if diagnosed; to inspire and help them to live a higher quality of life with their medical condition. The Right2Breathe™ Project provides free screenings to motorsports and automotive enthusiasts at events across the United States. The project also provides onsite tobacco prevention events at local elementary, middle and high schools in cities where the Right2Breathe™ Motorsports team competes.

We are dedicated to educating the automotive and motorsports community about pulmonary or respiratory medical conditions through a cause marketing campaign including but not limited to; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Asthma & Allergies, Cystic Fibrosis, Influenza, Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.

To learn more about The Right2Breathe™ Campaign, please visit their website at Right2Breathe.org.