Pennsylvania Casino Smoking Ban

Pa Casino Smoking Ban

Pennsylvania state Rep. Matt Baker has introduced a bill in the state House that ban smoking in the state’s casinos.

HB 1309 would remove all but two exemptions from the state’s 2008 Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking in all indoor spaces, exempting hotels, casinos, bars, truck stops, private clubs and others. Baker’s bill would retain exemptions only for private clubs and so-called “cigar bars.”

Baker told the Penn Live website that he would prefer no exemptions, but included the two as a compromise “My personal preference is I’d like the most comprehensive smoke-free law possible, but it’s also important to listen to the other members,” he said. “I’ll try to do that without undermining intent of the legislation.”

• Following a decision by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, smoking has been prohibited at Hollywood Casino.
• Jul 08, 2020 Mohegan Sun Casino and Hotel are seen in Plains Township. On July 4, Mohegan Sun Pocono became a 100% non-smoking facility in order to comply with the State of Pennsylvania’s mask mandate. Times Leader file photo.

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The CIAA had stated that a casino, or other venues, could designate as much as 50% of its gaming space to smoking, as long as they were approved by authorities.

Baker said his bill has the support of 60 major organizations, including the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Family Physicians Society and the Pennsylvania Restaurants and Lodging Association. “Our position is that this is a health issue for our employees,” Melissa Bova, vice president of government affairs for the restaurant and lodging association, told Penn Live. “We do support elimination of these exemptions. We do want our employees to have a healthy place to work.”

The current law allows casinos to permit smoking on up to half their gaming floors. Penn National Gaming, which operates Hollywood Casino outside of Harrisburg, was quick to denounce the proposed smoking ban, spokesman Eric Schippers telling Penn Live it would have a “deeply negative impact on the casino business.” He told the site the restriction would drive customers, and revenue, away from the industry, “either by taking their pocketbooks and crossing the border to another state, or by spending less time playing and more time in the parking lot.”

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The state tavern association is joining the casinos in opposing the bill. Current law allows bars to permit smoking if less than 20 percent of their revenue is from food sales.