Pennsylvania Casino Smoking Ban Jumps Legislative Hurdle

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 17, 2023

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A legislative committee granted initial approval on Wednesday to a bill proposing a smoking ban within Pennsylvania casinos, although the party-line vote indicates that the measure faces significant obstacles to passage.

The Protecting Workers from Secondhand Smoking Act (HB1657), introduced by House Health Committee Chairman Dan Frankel, received a close vote with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed.

Despite the Democrats’ majority in the House, the Republicans controlling the state Senate have not shown interest in extending smoking bans.

The bill seeks to address an exemption for casinos in Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act of 2008, allowing smoking on up to 50% of gaming floors.

GOP members expressed no objections to directing smokers to outdoor patios. Their primary concern is eliminating the Clean Indoor Air Act’s exemption for private clubs, especially veterans organizations, which they perceive as “government overreach.”

While most of Pennsylvania’s 17 casinos permit smoking on half or nearly half of the gaming floor, Parx Casino voluntarily maintains a smoke-free policy.

During the COVID pandemic, the state temporarily imposed an indoor smoking ban in all casinos. PA CEASE, an advocacy group supporting the bill, emphasizes the importance of a healthier workplace.

Parx Casino officials, noting no adverse impact on revenue from their smoke-free policy, underscore the viability of such measures. Jennifer Rubolino, an administrator of PA CEASE, hailed the committee vote as a positive step toward a healthier workplace, urging lawmakers to pass the bill on the House floor.

In his appeal for support from colleagues, Frankel emphasized that the smoking landscape in 2023 differs significantly from 15 years ago when the original act was enacted. Frankel also highlighted that a majority of Pennsylvanians neither smoke nor desire exposure to smoke.

Presently, there is an opportunity for a vote to safeguard thousands of Pennsylvanians from harm, enabling them to pursue employment with competitive pay, benefits and opportunities for advancement, all without compromising their health.

With more than 15,000 individuals employed in Pennsylvania’s 17 casinos, the industry generated a combined revenue of $3.4 billion from both smoking and non-smoking patrons engaged in slots and table games in the most recent fiscal year.

Although the committee’s discussion on Wednesday made little direct mention of casinos, Frankel has previously highlighted that Pennsylvania could benefit from a smoking ban if New Jersey eliminates its casino smoking exemption.

Casinos in the Philadelphia area compete with those in Atlantic City for customers, and New Jersey lawmakers are contemplating amending their state’s Clean Air Act this month to render casinos smoke-free.