Pennsylvania on line casino smoking opponents gathered Tuesday on the Harrisburg Capitol the place they known as on state lawmakers to assist staff’ well being by passing laws to power the state’s 17 brick-and-mortar casinos to go smoke-free.
Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Frankel rallies assist for his invoice to finish indoor on line casino smoking. Members of On line casino Staff Towards Smoking Results (CEASE) and the United Auto Employees Union (UAW) hosted the occasion in Harrisburg on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Picture: X)
The Pennsylvania chapter of On line casino Staff Towards Smoking Results (CEASE) joined the United Auto Employees (UAW) Area 9 union to rally for pro-worker payments that proceed lingering within the state capital constructing. One measure they voiced assist for was Home Invoice 1657, the so-called Defending Employees From Secondhand Smoke Act.
Legislators have a duty to face with staff and which means making certain the security of everybody within the office, beginning with eliminating indoor smoking in our casinos,” stated Jennifer Rubolino, a desk video games vendor at Rivers On line casino in Pittsburgh and a CEASE co-lead within the commonwealth. “Closing the on line casino smoking loophole is not only an ethical responsibility however a smart move for the state, particularly contemplating that 90% of company don’t smoke.”
HB 1657 was launched in September 2023 by Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), who chairs the Home Well being Committee and for years has been attempting to shut the on line casino smoking loophole. The measure handed Frankel’s Well being Committee in mid-November with a 13-11 partisan vote the place every “yea” vote got here from Democrats and every “nay” got here from all GOP members.
Well being Over Income
Many Republican lawmakers have seemingly sided with the on line casino foyer on claims {that a} full smoking ban would push some gamblers to close by Atlantic Metropolis the place indoor smoking stays permitted in sure sections. The casinos declare a tobacco prohibition would cut back income and consequence within the gaming venues slicing jobs.
Of the 17 casinos within the commonwealth, simply two don’t benefit from the smoking privilege made out there by means of the state’s 2008 Clear Indoor Air Act. Parx On line casino north of downtown Philadelphia in Bensalem and its sister property, Parx On line casino Shippensburg, are the exceptions.
The first Parx property has been the top-grossing on line casino within the state for a number of years. Whereas smoking proponents say that’s as a result of the on line casino will get a lot of the nonsmoking crowd within the Philadelphia metro, on line casino smoking opponents say it’s as a result of smoke-free casinos are most well-liked by the vast majority of the general public.
‘We’ve seen the success of smoke-free casinos on this state,” Rubolino continued.
Rubolino added that even when smoke-free casinos generated much less income, clear indoor air workplaces and defending staff’ well being ought to outweigh in significance on line casino firms’ backside traces.
“How do you place a value on the well being of workers? We urge legislators to cross complete smoke-free legal guidelines to make sure that nobody has to sacrifice their well being for a paycheck,” she concluded.
Session Longer Than Most
Many state governments have a lot shorter classes than Pennsylvania. The Keystone State’s lawmaking interval for 2024 started on January 2 and runs by means of November 30, which means there’s nonetheless loads of time for Frankel’s on line casino smoking invoice to get throughout the end line.
Frankel joined CEASE and UAW Area 9 on Tuesday. The UAW represents desk sport sellers, slot attendants, on line casino hosts, cage cashiers, and others who work immediately on the gaming flooring.
“Unions in Pennsylvania and unions round this nation have fought for staff and it’s not simply wages and advantages,” Frankel stated on the capital. “It is usually for his or her well being and welfare. That’s what we’re speaking about with the Clear Indoor Air Act.
