Owners of PA Valley Forge Casino Reject Proposals for a Study on a Non-Smoking Policy

Shareholders of Boyd Gaming Corporations, which owns the Valley Forge Casino Resort property in Pennsylvania, voted with a resounding ‘no’ against a study that would assess the performance of its property were they to go completely smoke-free. 

A total of 75% shareholders voted against the proposal as reported in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing earlier this week. 

Non-Smokers’ Rights Foundation Describes Vote as Step in Right Direction

The regulatory filing with the SEC revealed that the proposal only garnered 18.5 million votes in favor, compared to the 63.5 million votes cast against it. The American Non-Smokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) reported on the matter, explaining that, although the vote was a negative one, there are silver linings to be found.

“Passing a proposal opposed by the company requires significant education with our fellow shareholders, so we’re very pleased by this vote that will allow us to continue to seek more information about the costs the company bears by continuing to allow indoor smoking,” said Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of the ANRF and one of the filers of the proposal.

Hallett also remarked that most proposals don’t even make it to a vote, “let alone reach double digit-level support” and that, with this issue now reaching the boardroom, “companies cannot hide from this important matter that affects the health and well-being of their employees and guests. We are confident that we now have the attention of the highest-level executives at not just Boyd Gaming but across the entire gaming industry”.

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