Rhode Island legislators advance bill banning smoking at casinos to Senate floor

A Rhode Island Senate panel advanced on Tuesday legislation to end smoking at casinos, positioning it for consideration by the full chamber. The plan is protested by Bally’s Corporation, which estimates that Rhode Island could lose between $30 million and $60 million in tax revenue if lawmakers finalize a smoking ban.

The Senate Committee on Labor & Gaming voted 7-0 to approve an amended bill introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, which would end the exemption to the state’s indoor smoking ban enjoyed for years by the state’s two casinos starting in 2027.

The measure would prohibit smoking inside Bally’s Lincoln and Tiverton casinos, while allowing enclosed smoking bars to continue operating, such as the Plume & Proof Cigar Bar at Bally’s Lincoln. Committee member Sen. Ryan Pearson was not present for the vote.

Sosnowski initially proposed an immediate ban but agreed to the delayed timeline after discussions with other lawmakers. She said the change allows Bally’s time to implement adjustments to comply with the measure.

The House version of the bill, filed by Rep. Teresa Tanzi, does not currently include a timeline for implementation. The House Committee on Finance is scheduled to review the bill on Wednesday.

House spokesperson Larry Berman confirmed that language in the bill remains subject to change. Tanzi expressed concerns about the scope of the smoking lounge exception and suggested specifying square footage limits to prevent expansion. Sosnowski said she does not plan to make further changes to the Senate version.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, one of 10 cosponsors of the House bill, said he supports the Senate compromise. “This was an agreement reached by several interested parties, and it now provides a date certain when smoking will be eliminated,” he said.

Sosnowski credited Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone for facilitating the agreement. Ciccone had previously proposed an expansion of non-smoking areas through negotiations between Bally’s and labor unions. However, union officials opposed any plan that allowed continued indoor smoking.

Ciccone focused on what terms Bally’s could accept instead. He later introduced separate legislation to raise Bally’s marketing reimbursement cap from the Rhode Island Lottery, which passed the Senate 32-4 on June 3 and is awaiting House referral.

Bally’s Vice President of Government Relations, Elizabeth Suever, told the committee that smoking bans in other states resulted in significant revenue declines and that staffing levels are tied to customer volume. As of Tuesday, Bally’s listed 35 job openings in Lincoln and 26 in Tiverton.

Employees present at the hearing, including Bally’s Tiverton bartender Karen Gorman, voiced support for the bill and said the smoking environment makes recruitment difficult. Labor leader Matt Dunham said the proposal was a step forward after years of unsuccessful efforts.