Rivers On line casino Philadelphia has voluntarily determined to eradicate indoor smoking from its gaming flooring. The ban brings the Fishtown on line casino into concord with Parx, one other Philly-area on line casino positioned simply north of town correct in Bensalem, Pa.
A slots gambler at Ocean On line casino Resort in Atlantic Metropolis smokes a cigarette on February 10, 2022. Rivers On line casino Philadelphia has made the optionally available choice to ban indoor smoking. (Picture: AP)
Pennsylvania’s Clear Indoor Air Act of 2008 supplied an exemption for business casinos that permits such amenities to designate as much as 50% of their gaming area for smoking. Rivers, nonetheless, is opting to forego that allowance and preserve a smoke-free venue.
Rivers On line casino Philadelphia has determined to proceed prohibiting indoor smoking,” a press release from the on line casino defined. “Rivers will proceed to watch suggestions, which has been constructive.”
Rivers On line casino is owned and operated by Rush Avenue Gaming. The Chicago-based gaming agency moreover runs Rivers On line casino Pittsburgh. Smoking there’ll stay permitted, in the meanwhile, firm officers confirmed.
Regional Affect
Many Atlantic Metropolis on line casino employees and New Jersey state lawmakers wish to finish an identical indoor smoking loophole afforded to casinos in Atlantic Metropolis. However business officers there, in addition to a latest word from gaming analyst John DeCree of Union Gaming, stated a smoking ban would damage gaming revenues by as a lot as 25%.
Atlantic Metropolis casinos can designate as much as 25% of their gaming area for indoor smoking. The On line casino Affiliation of New Jersey and DeCree contend {that a} full prohibition on on line casino smoking would put Atlantic Metropolis’s gaming market at a aggressive drawback with Philadelphia casinos. In Pennsylvania, people who smoke can proceed to gentle up and gamble on the similar time.
However with Rivers becoming a member of Parx in voluntarily prohibiting indoor smoking, that argument could possibly be subdued.
Rivers and Parx each briefly suspended indoor on line casino smoking amid the pandemic, as did all casinos within the state on Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) COVID-19 orders. However whereas casinos throughout the commonwealth have since resumed indoor smoking after the governor’s order was lifted, Parx and Rivers opted to stay smoke-free all through 2021. Regardless of being smoke-free, Parx and Rivers respectively ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in whole 2021 GGR amongst Pennsylvania’s 16 land-based casinos.
Parx brick-and-mortar income final 12 months from slot machines and desk video games totaled roughly $617.1 million. Rivers Philadelphia GGR totaled greater than $352.6 million.
By comparability, Dwell! On line casino & Resort Philadelphia — the one different on line casino inside town’s limits — returned indoor smoking as soon as allowed. However the Stadium District facility’s land-based GGR in 2021 totaled roughly $209.3 million. Nevertheless it’s price noting that Dwell! solely opened in late January of 2021.
Atlantic Metropolis Response
Those that need on line casino smoking banned in Atlantic Metropolis had been fast to react to the Rivers On line casino Philadelphia information.
“People for Nonsmokers’ Rights” is a nationwide nonprofit advocating for clear public airspaces that’s working with “On line casino Staff Towards Smoking’s Results (CEASE).” ANR President and CEO Cynthia Hallett says Rivers’ choice ought to be a wake-up name for Atlantic Metropolis.
It’s turning into more durable and more durable for Atlantic Metropolis casinos to defend indoor smoking that threatens the well being of their workers,” Hallett stated. “Rivers On line casino Philly joins Parx On line casino and casinos in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Connecticut in not allowing indoor smoking.
“It’s previous time for Atlantic Metropolis casinos to finish this outdated enterprise follow and as an alternative profit from the visitors who would go to their properties, had been it not for the smoke,” Hallett concluded.
