The effort has been underway for some time, but was put on the back burner
Efforts to end smoking inside Rhode Island casinos have resurfaced at the State House, where lawmakers are once again reviewing a bill that would close the long-standing exemption granted to gaming floors. House Bill 25, championed by Representative Teresa Tanzi, aims to include casinos under the Clean Indoor Air Act, which has otherwise applied across much of the state since it was introduced.
While most indoor public places in Rhode Island have followed smoke-free guidelines for years, casinos have remained an exception. That legal loophole has come under renewed criticism, especially from casino employees who say their health has been directly affected.
One such voice is Vanessa Baker, a former iGaming supervisor at Bally’s casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton, who shared her personal experience working in an environment filled with second-hand smoke. She testified about the health issues she’s faced and the broader toll this has taken on staff.
Public support for the ban seems to be growing. A recent poll from the AFL-CIO showed that about 70 percent of Rhode Islanders favor ending the smoking exemption for casinos. During the pandemic, Bally’s temporarily halted smoking indoors, offering a brief glimpse of a cleaner environment. However, once restrictions were lifted, smoking quickly returned.
Bally’s executive Craig Sculos has warned lawmakers to be cautious. He argues that banning smoking could drive business away, pointing out that Rhode Island benefits from players crossing the border from Massachusetts and Connecticut, where casino smoking is not allowed. According to him, smokers are a significant customer base, and removing indoor smoking might affect revenue.
Despite the back-and-forth, the pressure is mounting. The health concerns raised by staff, along with shifting public opinion, suggest that lawmakers may have to make a decision sooner rather than later. Whether the bill makes it through this time could shape the future of casino operations in the state.
