Pennsylvania Casino Smoking Opponents Rally at Harrisburg Capitol
- 11 Jun 2024
- Gambling News
Opponents of casino smoking in Pennsylvania met on Tuesday at the capitol in Harrisburg, where they urged state legislators to support workers' health by enacting laws requiring the state's 17 land-based casinos to stop smoking.
Joining the United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9 union, the Pennsylvania branch of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) organized a protest in support of pro-worker laws that are still pending in the state capitol building. The so-called Protecting Workers From Secondhand Smoke Act, House Bill 1657, was one of the measures they expressed support for.
"Legislators have a responsibility to stand with workers and that means ensuring the safety of everyone in the workplace, starting with eliminating indoor smoking in our casinos,” said Jennifer Rubolino, a table games dealer at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and a CEASE co-lead in the commonwealth. “Closing the casino smoking loophole is not just a moral duty but a smart decision for the state, especially considering that 90% of guests do not smoke.”
Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), the chair of the House Health Committee, has been working to address the casino smoking loophole for years. In September 2023, he presented HB 1657. In mid-November, Frankel's Health Committee approved the legislation in a 13-11 partisan vote, with all GOP members voting "nay" and Democrats voting "yes."
Prioritize Health Over Profits
On the grounds that a complete smoking ban would drive some gamblers to neighboring Atlantic City, where indoor smoking is still allowed in some areas, a number of Republican lawmakers appear to have sided with the casino lobby. The casinos contend that a ban on tobacco use would lower their earnings and force them to lay off employees.
Just two of the 17 casinos in the commonwealth do not allow smoking, as permitted by the 2008 Clean Indoor Air Act of the state. The exceptions are Parx Casino Shippensburg and its sister facility, Parx Casino Bensalem, which are located north of Philadelphia's center.
For a number of years, the main Parx location has been the highest-grossing casino in the state. Supporters of smoking in casinos argue that this is because a large portion of the nonsmoking population in the Philadelphia metro area frequents the establishment, while opponents of smoking in casinos contend that the public prefers smoke-free casinos.
‘We’ve seen the success of smoke-free casinos in this state,” Rubolino continued.
Rubolino went on to say that although smoke-free casinos may bring in less money, maintaining healthy indoor environments for employees and their well-being should take precedence over the financial interests of the gaming industry.
“How do you put a price on the health of employees? We urge legislators to pass comprehensive smoke-free laws to ensure that no one has to sacrifice their health for a paycheck,” she concluded.
More Extended Than Typical
Sessions in several state governments are substantially shorter than in Pennsylvania's. There is still plenty of time for Frankel's casino smoking measure to pass because the Keystone State's 2024 legislative session started on January 2 and ends on November 30.
On Tuesday, Frankel became a part of UAW Region 9 and CEASE. Table game dealers, slot attendants, casino hosts, cage cashiers, and other employees who work directly on the gaming floors are represented by the UAW.
“Unions in Pennsylvania and unions around this country have fought for workers and it’s not just wages and benefits,” Frankel said at the capital. “It is also for their health and welfare. That is what we are talking about with the Clean Indoor Air Act.
