Casino workers descended on the steps of the Rhode Island State House this week to voice their support for a ban on indoor smoking at venues.
First reported by the Rhode Island Current, over 150 workers were heard chanting “no more smoke” as they backed a bill by Rep. Teresa Tanzi that seeks to end an exemption allowing for indoor smoking at The Ocean State’s two casinos.
A companion bill sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnokwski is also yet to be heard by the Senate Committee on Labour and Gaming.
“Workers deserve a smoke-free workplace,” said Jesse Martin, the Executive Vice President of the union SEIU 1199NE, which represents many casino workers. “People deserve the ability to do their work free from injury, free from these types of concerns.”
Smoking was temporarily banned during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the rules were subsequently lifted in March 2022.
Those against the ban, including Frank Ciccone, the Chair of the aforementioned Senate Committee, cite concerns surrounding the loss of revenue at the casinos.
Bally’s operates both casinos, in Lincoln and Tiverton, and Ciccone is seeking to find an agreement between the operator and unions to expand existing non-smoking areas, however, it is unclear if Bally’s is open to such a change.
Previously, casino workers have provided testimony at Rhode Island’s State House, detailing the harm caused by working in second-hand smoke.
Vanessa Baker, an iGaming Supervisor working across both Bally’s casinos, told lawmakers that “there’s no safe ventilation that’s protecting [workers]” from the smoke. Baker also revealed that she had to take six months off work due to illness caused by smoke inhalation.
Bally’s Senior Vice President for Rhode Island Regulatory Relations, Craig Sculos, reiterated the operator’s opposition to the proposal, arguing that allowing smoking attracts customers from the neighbouring states of Connecticut and Massachusetts, where smoking is banned in casinos.
The issue of allowing smoking within casinos has been a long-debated topic across many US States.
In an interview with SBC Americas, Brian Christopher, a prominent slot streamer, chastised companies like Bally’s for choosing not to investigate whether consumers want a smoke-free environment in casinos.
He said: “I’m like you won’t even research to find out what your people want, shame on you. I’m so against that. People want smoke-free gaming, and I’m even hearing that from smokers. People don’t smoke in their own houses, they don’t want to breathe it in nonstop. It makes no sense that 100% should have to breathe it in when only 11% smoke.”
Christopher, who has provided testimony in New Jersey on the topic, advocates for casinos to provide smoking patios outside for smokers, which he says will also have the positive responsible gambling benefit of allowing players to take a break.
