A Senate committee in Rhode Island moved forward on Tuesday with a legislative proposal aimed at banning smoking in casinos, setting the stage for a vote by the entire chamber. This initiative has faced opposition from Bally’s Corporation, which predicts a potential loss of $30 million to $60 million in tax revenues if a smoking prohibition is enacted.
The Senate Committee on Labor & Gaming unanimously passed a revised version of a bill introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, which seeks to eliminate the long-standing smoking exemption for the two casinos in the state, with implementation slated for 2027.
This legislation would ban smoking within Bally’s Lincoln and Tiverton casinos, although it would permit the continuation of enclosed smoking lounges, such as the Plume & Proof Cigar Bar located at Bally’s Lincoln. Sen. Ryan Pearson was absent during the vote.
Initially advocating for an immediate smoking ban, Sosnowski conceded to a later start date following discussions with fellow lawmakers. She indicated that this modification offers Bally’s an opportunity to make necessary adjustments to adhere to the new requirements.
The corresponding House bill, introduced by Rep. Teresa Tanzi, currently lacks a specified timeline for enforcement. The House Committee on Finance is set to review this legislation on Wednesday.
A spokesperson from the House, Larry Berman, has confirmed that amendments to the bill’s language are still possible. Tanzi has voiced concerns regarding the size limitations of smoking lounges and has recommended putting square footage constraints in place to hinder future expansions. Sosnowski stated that she intends to keep the Senate version unchanged.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, one of the ten cosponsors of the House proposal, expressed his support for the Senate’s compromise. “This agreement was negotiated among various stakeholders, and it now establishes a definitive date for when smoking will cease,” he remarked.
Sosnowski acknowledged Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone for facilitating the consensus. Ciccone had previously suggested expanding non-smoking zones as a result of discussions between Bally’s and labor organizations, but labor officials rejected any initiative permitting ongoing indoor smoking.
Ciccone then concentrated on determining which terms Bally’s would find acceptable. He subsequently introduced a distinct bill to increase the marketing reimbursement limit for Bally’s from the Rhode Island Lottery, which received Senate approval with a 32-4 vote on June 3 and is now awaiting referral in the House.
Bally’s Vice President of Government Relations, Elizabeth Suever, informed the committee that smoking bans in other jurisdictions have resulted in substantial revenue losses, and staffing levels are directly linked to customer turnout. At present, Bally’s has 35 job openings in Lincoln and 26 in Tiverton.
Attendees at the hearing, including Bally’s Tiverton bartender Karen Gorman, expressed support for the bill, highlighting how the smoking environment hinders their recruitment efforts. Labor leader Matt Dunham stated that this proposal signifies progress following years of unsuccessful attempts.