Published on: October 2, 2025, 08:31h.
Updated on: October 2, 2025, 08:31h.
- Legislation aimed at banning smoking in Pennsylvania casinos is making headway in Harrisburg
- As it stands, casinos can designate up to half of their gaming areas for smoking
A new effort to ban smoking on casino floors in Pennsylvania has successfully passed through a House committee once again.
Pennsylvania State Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) has been an ongoing advocate for eliminating smoking in casinos and is once again pushing for a measure that would require smokers to step outside to indulge in cigarettes or cigars.
Frankel’s House Bill 880 seeks to amend the Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act by removing exemptions granted to slot machine establishments. This bill carried through the House Health Committee on Tuesday with a decisive 22-4 vote. While the Health Committee showed bipartisan support, none of the bill’s 23 cosponsors are Republicans.
“Pennsylvanians shouldn’t have to choose between their health and their livelihoods,” Frankel stated. “This legislation aims to eliminate loopholes that leave workers vulnerable to harmful smoke, broaden the smoking definition to encompass e-cigarettes, and empower localities to institute stricter smoke-free regulations than those at the state level.”
Currently, Pennsylvania law permits casinos to designate as much as 50% of their gaming space for smoking.
Challenges Ahead for the Bill
Frankel argues that an increasing number of studies demonstrate that smoke-free environments in gaming establishments benefit business. He highlights Parx Casino, located just north of Philadelphia, as the top-grossing venue among Pennsylvania’s 17 physical casinos. Parx officials assert that their smoke-free policy has lowered employee healthcare costs, boosted morale, and attracted fresh clientele, including both gamers and non-gamers.
“Research examining the casino industry and consumer sentiments shows that the outdated perception that smoking bans adversely affect businesses is not supported by modern data,” Frankel added.
Despite this, many legislators still favor the gaming sector, holding the view that a smoking restriction would adversely impact player turnout and result in widespread job losses. This perspective presents significant hurdles for HB880 as it seeks passage through the General Assembly and potential approval from Governor Josh Shapiro (D).
Last year, Frankel’s smoking ban proposal advanced through the House Health Committee but faltered on the House floor.
Of Pennsylvania’s 17 casinos, only two permit indoor smoking—Parx and its mini-casino, Parx Shippensburg.
States with Casino Smoking Regulations
In the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, Pennsylvania and New Jersey stand out as allowing smoking in casinos. Conversely, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut enforce bans on indoor smoking.
Opponents of smoke-free casinos in Atlantic City and Pennsylvania often argue that such a ban would drive smokers to alternative markets where smoking is still allowed. The commute from Philadelphia to Atlantic City takes just around an hour.
Both gaming markets are thriving, with in-person revenue in Atlantic City rising 2.8% to exceed $1.97 billion from January to August 2025. In Pennsylvania, casino income reached $3.36 billion during the state’s fiscal year 2024/25.