Smoke-free Casinos :
Better for Workers , Guests & Casinos ’ Bottom Lines
Research shows casinos that prohibit indoor smoking outperform their smoking counterparts . Here ’ s why they should close smoking loopholes now .
By Cynthia Hallett
Indoor smoking was once a common and expected feature of casinos . But growing health concerns related to secondhand smoke and the all-time low smoking rate of only 11 percent suggest it is only a matter of time until casinos no longer allow indoor smoking .
In fact , lawmakers in New Jersey and Rhode Island are closer than ever to passing legislation that would close the casino smoking loophole to protect the health of workers and non-smoking guests .
As head of Americans for Nonsmokers ’ Rights ( ANR ), I lead our organization ’ s mission to protect everyone ’ s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places , from offices and airplanes to restaurants , bars and casinos . ANR continues to shine a light on the tobacco industry ’ s interference with sound , life-saving public health measures , and has successfully protected 61 percent of the population with local or statewide smoke-free workplace , restaurant and bar laws .
Thanks to the organizing of hundreds of casino workers in Atlantic City and a growing number of states , the issue of casino smoking policies and worker health has gained national attention and is fueling a broad movement for more casinos to go smoke-free indoors .
When smoking was brought back into Atlantic City casinos in July 2021 , those workers created Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects ( CEASE ), to mobilize their colleagues to fight for the right to a safe and healthy work environment . Since then , CEASE has expanded to include chapters in several states , including New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island and Kansas , with several more to come .
Their campaign has been incredibly successful in recruiting casino workers to join the movement and push lawmakers to finally consider legislation to close the casino smoking loophole .
Earlier this year , Atlantic City casino workers and a coalition of public health advocates gathered in Trenton to urge New Jersey lawmakers to end the outdated practice of indoor smoking in casinos . During hearings before multiple committees in the state legislature , workers shared harrowing stories of being forced to deal table games during pregnancy or chronic illnesses as guests blew smoke right in their faces .
Toxic Work Environment — Literally
The Rhode Island House Committee on Finance hosted a recent hearing that included testimony from workers about closing the casino smoking loophole . “ I ’ m personally dealing with the effects of secondhand smoke and I ’ m currently out of work due to respiratory issues ,” said Vanessa Baker , a table games supervisor at Bally ’ s Tiverton and member of CEASE Rhode Island . “ Since indoor smoking was reinstated last year , every day when we walk into the casino , dealers know we ’ re being exposed to toxic cancer-causing chemicals in exchange for a paycheck , just to support our families .”
In addition to support from CEASE , legislation to close the loophole is supported by the United Auto Workers , the American Cancer Society , the American Lung Association , the American Heart Association , the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids , and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation .
More and more , casinos nationwide are going smoke-free , including Park MGM on the Las Vegas Strip . More than 1,000 gaming properties across 38 states don ’ t permit smoking indoors , and 20 states have laws requiring commercial casinos to be smoke-free indoors .
To be clear , many in the industry are eager to engage in conversations about indoor smoking . The Indian Gaming Association has hosted multiple public discussions at its annual conference . The Navajo Nation passed legislation in 2021 that made its four casinos smoke-free indoors . Tribal casinos have been leaders in ending indoor smoking and protecting their employees from dangerous secondhand smoke ; approximately 160 tribal casinos have adopted 100 percent smoke-free indoor air policies .
Too many , though , continue to employ the sky-is-falling scare tactics about jobs and revenues that contradict independent analysis of competitive casino markets where that just didn ’ t happen .
The latest data from Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming found that casinos without indoor smoking are outperforming their smoking counterparts . “ Data from multiple jurisdictions clearly indicates that banning smoking no longer causes a dramatic drop in gaming revenue ,” the report
36 CASINO STYLE 2023