CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Representatives from the Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center asked the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health to reconsider the county's smoking ban at the racetrack, but health officials weren't sympathetic.

Dan Adkins, the racetrack's vice president, asked the health board to allow a partial exemption for the "one-of-a-kind" establishment that would designate smoking and nonsmoking areas within the casino and gaming area.

"We can handle smokers and nonsmokers. We have had total separation in the past and are asking for consideration again since we are a unique destination within the state," Adkins said.

He said the racetrack has lost $15 million in revenue in the past year, more than half of which officials blame on the smoking ban.

"Nine million of that can be attributed to nonsmoking," he said. "Yes, we've had an economic downturn but that can't account for a full 24 percent drop in revenue."

Members of the health board weren't inclined to reconsider the ban.

"It's hard in one year to make any determination on if the smoking ban has affected losses, especially because of the economic downturn," said Brenda Isaac, the board's president. "It will be discussed, but I would not be inclined to make an exception."

Other board members felt the same, saying the racetrack was welcome to ask to be reconsidered, but the board shouldn't go back on what it passed.

"It's first and foremost a health issue. We are doing this because of the evidence against [smoking]," said board member Shannon Snodgrass.

The smoking ban has caused tourism revenue in the county and state to shrink, Adkins said.

"We track our players like any other casino and we know that our dollars are going out of state where people can smoke," he said.

According to Adkins, Tri-State is the only one of the state's three racetracks with table games to have a smoking ban, which he said makes the restriction to his business unfair.

"As long as the ban is fair and equal, we'll cooperate," he said. "We aren't being treated fairly. We're asking for a level playing field."

Dan Adkins, the racetrack's vice president, asked the health board to allow a partial exemption for the "one-of-a-kind" establishment that would designate smoking and nonsmoking areas within the casino and gaming area.

"We can handle smokers and nonsmokers. We have had total separation in the past and are asking for consideration again since we are a unique destination within the state," Adkins said.

He said the racetrack has lost $15 million in revenue in the past year, more than half of which officials blame on the smoking ban.

"Nine million of that can be attributed to nonsmoking," he said. "Yes, we've had an economic downturn but that can't account for a full 24 percent drop in revenue."

Members of the health board weren't inclined to reconsider the ban.

"It's hard in one year to make any determination on if the smoking ban has affected losses, especially because of the economic downturn," said Brenda Isaac, the board's president. "It will be discussed, but I would not be inclined to make an exception."

Other board members felt the same, saying the racetrack was welcome to ask to be reconsidered, but the board shouldn't go back on what it passed.

"It's first and foremost a health issue. We are doing this because of the evidence against [smoking]," said board member Shannon Snodgrass.

The smoking ban has caused tourism revenue in the county and state to shrink, Adkins said.

"We track our players like any other casino and we know that our dollars are going out of state where people can smoke," he said.

According to Adkins, Tri-State is the only one of the state's three racetracks with table games to have a smoking ban, which he said makes the restriction to his business unfair.

"As long as the ban is fair and equal, we'll cooperate," he said. "We aren't being treated fairly. We're asking for a level playing field."

He said that the racetrack would do whatever it needed to do to accommodate the clients and fit the requirements of the health department.

Not everyone at Thursday's meeting was unhappy with the smoking ban.

Judy Crabtree, a representative from the Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement and the American Lung Association of West Virginia, thanked the health department for enforcing the smoking ban for the past year.

"Everyone is welcome to go out now and enjoy themselves because of the clean indoor air act," Crabtree said. "Even people with breathing disorders or lung disease."

Crabtree presented the county with a poster sized thank-you card from members in the community who are grateful for the smoking ban.

In the past year, Kanawha County has had a 95 percent compliance rate with the smoking ban -- including the racetrack, something Adkins noted.

"We've done everything required in the past year, and I'm asking for you to respectfully reconsider the ban," Adkins said.

Recent studies have shown that smoking bans have many positive health effects with a limited number of negative effects, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, health officer for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department.

"There is a decrease of strokes and emphysema, cancer and long term coronary heart disease," Gupta said. "There is even an increase in quit rates and a reduction of youth smoking across the nation."

In other business, the county's home health business will be up for auction July 23, with an opening bid of $650,000.

The auction will take place on the Kanawha County Courthouse steps at 10 a.m.

Reach Kathryn Gregory at kathr...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.