Ho-Chunk Gaming located in Madison, Wisconsin announced Tuesday, June 16, 2015 that it would become a smoke free facility on August 1. Ho-Chunk will still allow electronic cigarettes, but for guests who wish to smoke traditional cigarettes, there will be a new facility steps away from the casino. This allows Ho-Chunk to accommodate all their guests, as well as provide a smoke free environment for employees and non-smoking guests.

The state enacted the Wisconsin Smoke-Free Air Law in July 2010, but Native American facilities and land was exempt. Ho-Chunk is one the first of six casinos to make the choice without any legislation or public request to make the change.

Daniel Brown, executive manager of Ho-Chunk, stated, “We believe that we are among the first business which is choosing to do this on our own, rather than being publicly mandated to do so. We still believe in providing areas to accommodate all of our guests, but want to assure the existing building will be 100% smoke-free.”