Pennsylvania casinos are once again permitted to allow smoking on casino floors. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, in the wake of the state’s lifting of the Covid-19-related universal masking order on June 28, has informed licensees that they may allow smoking again at any time.
After closing under the Covid-19 lockdown order in March 2020, the gaming board banned smoking as casinos reopened in June with a mandate that employees and customers wear masks. All the casinos set up outdoor areas to accommodate smokers.
The prior rule that 50 percent of casino floors remain smoke-free is still in effect.
Anti-smoking groups quickly denounced the decision.
“Pennsylvania should join 20 other states that have banned smoking in casinos by making the temporary ban permanent,” said Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, according to the PlayPennsylvania news site.
“People still come to play. The majority of the population doesn’t smoke. I know there is this perception that gaming and smoking go together. However, we have also seen from polls that individuals would be more likely to go to a casino if it was smoke-free.”
Brian King, spokesman for the Office of Smoking and Health for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concurred, telling the news site, “If all these casinos remain smoke-free even post Covid-19, this could have an immeasurable (impact) in terms of not only protecting the public who attend these venues, but also workers who are working eight hours or more per day in these environments.”
In neighboring New Jersey, returned to 25 percent of the casino floors in Atlantic City as of July 4. Opponents hoped a smoking ban would remain in effect after the pandemic subsided, and advocates hope the legislature will act now.
They may have reason to hope. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he would support legislation to ban smoking. But that legislation isn’t in the immediate future, despite six co-sponsors. So employees and guests will continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke.
“Employees will have to choose between a paycheck and their health,” said Robert Zlotnick, co-founder of Smoke-Free Atlantic City.
Atlantic City casinos have been thriving while operating smoke-free, having generated 11 percent greater profits in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the same period in 2019.
In addition, ventilation system experts have contradicted casino industry claims about the effectiveness of advanced systems. “They can reduce only odor and discomfort but cannot eliminate exposure,” according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
The society sent a letter to Casino Association of New Jersey President Terry Glebocki, saying, “There is no currently available or reasonably anticipated ventilation or air cleaning system that can adequately control or significantly reduce the health risks of environmental tobacco smoke to an acceptable level.”
In Missouri, meanwhile, Stan Cowan, a retired public health official with the University of Missouri, is urging casino operators and legislators to consider a statewide ban on smoking in casinos. “They are interested in profits over health,” he said. “Is a casino worker’s health considered less valuable?”
In response, Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Mike Leara said, “Part of the enjoyment of going to the casino has been being able to smoke. A lot of them have restrictions on where you can smoke.”
