Pennsylvania lawmakers push to ban casino smoking in 2025 after worker health concerns

Casino employees like Jennifer Rubolino have spent years breathing toxic air at work. Now, a revived 2025 bill could finally clear the smoke—and save lives.

, and Administrator

2026 April 4 . 8:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a no smoking sign on a white background. The sign is rectangular in shape with a... — The image shows a no smoking sign on a white background. The sign is rectangular in shape with a red circle in the center and a black line through it, indicating that it is a prohibition sign. The text on the sign reads "No Smoking" in bold black lettering.

Pennsylvania lawmakers push to ban casino smoking in 2025 after worker health concerns

A push to ban smoking in Pennsylvania casinos is gaining momentum. State Representative Dan Frankel plans to reintroduce legislation in 2025 after a previous attempt stalled last year. The campaign has support from casino workers and public health advocates who highlight the risks of secondhand smoke exposure. Pennsylvania's 2008 Clean Indoor Air Act currently allows casinos to keep designated smoking areas. This exemption has left employees vulnerable to health risks, according to advocates. Over 22,000 smoking-related deaths occur annually in the state, as noted by Cynthia Hallett, CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR).

One casino, Parx in Bensalem, voluntarily went smoke-free after pandemic restrictions ended in 2022. Since then, it has led Pennsylvania in revenue while reporting improved staff morale and lower turnover. Marc Oppenheimer, Parx's COO, confirmed that the policy has not harmed business. Jennifer Rubolino, a table games dealer and co-leader of the advocacy group CEASE PA, has spent years inhaling secondhand smoke at work. She is now urging lawmakers to close the loophole. Frankel and his supporters hope Parx's success will encourage other casinos to follow suit. The proposed bill, the *Protecting Workers from Secondhand Smoke Act*, advanced through a House Committee in 2023 but never reached a full vote. Advocates are now pressing more legislators to back the measure when it returns in the 2025-26 session.

If passed, the legislation would remove the casino exemption and ban indoor smoking statewide. Public health groups and workers argue the change would protect thousands of employees. The outcome may hinge on whether more lawmakers join the effort in the next session.