Anti-Smoking Activists in Rhode Island Aim for a Smoke-Free Casino Environment by 2025
Rhode Island's Bally's Corporation, the sole operator of casinos in the state, managed to secure favorable legislation during the 2024 session before the General Assembly's adjournment.
Bally's executives maintain that a complete ban on indoor smoking on casino floors would decimate gaming revenues, leading to job losses and reduced tax income for the state.
Bally's Twin River Lincoln and Bally's Tiverton facilitate video lottery terminals (VLTs) on behalf of the Rhode Island Lottery, with the state collecting around 60% of the earnings.
Attempts to mandate smoke-free indoor environments in the two casinos once again failed in the Providence legislature. However, a glimmer of hope was offered to anti-smoking advocates on the eve of the state Senate and House of Representatives adjournment, with members of a House committee hinting at a potential smoke-free casino policy in 2025.
Symbolic Vote
Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-South Kingstown), a former smoker and an advocate for smoke-free spaces in Providence, introduced House Bill 7500 in February. Ten Democrats supported the bill, which aimed to apply the state’s Public Health and Workplace Safety Act banning indoor smoking in most businesses and public places to the Bally's properties.
HB 7500 was sent to the House Finance Committee, where it was considered on May 3. Despite the committee being dominated by Democrats, the bill was held back for further study on the potential economic impacts on the Lincoln and Tiverton casinos.
Even without a completed study, ten Democratic members of the Finance Committee unanimously voted in favor of the bill on the evening of June 13. Tanzi interpreted the vote as a demonstration of awareness of the concerns expressed by casino workers.
The Rhode Island chapter of CEASE — Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects — acknowledged that the 2024 legislative session did not force the Bally's casinos to implement outdoor smoking areas, but saw the committee vote as a potential catalyst for a smoke-free casino bill to pass in 2025.
Bally's Corp. shareholders rejected in May a proposal from an investor requesting a comprehensive review of the company's operations if all its casinos were to become smoke-free. Bally's urged shareholders to vote against the proposal, labeling it as "unwarranted and unreasonable."
Bally's Victories
In addition to retaining indoor smoking, Bally's managed to persuade state lawmakers to permit the Lincoln and Tiverton casinos to provide higher credit lines to VIPs and high rollers. Sen. President Dominick Ruggerio (D-North Providence) sponsoring Senate Bill 3040, which would allow Bally's to issue $100,000 in cash to eligible players — an increase from the current $50,000 limit.
The Senate approved the bill in early June, and the House followed suit on June 11. SB 3040 is now on Gov. Daniel McKee’s (D) desk, with the governor expected to allow the measure to become law.
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