The ban comes after protest action from casino workers, who voiced concerns over serious health risks from extended exposure to secondhand smoke at the gaming tables.
Rhode Island Representative Teresa Tanzi has shown firm support to the casino employees, and has sponsored a bill, 2022-H 7855, that would make a change to state law and see smoking banned at casinos.
Rhode Island regulations currently prohibit smoking in all work environments, however an exemption is offered to casinos. This has proved controversial, and the bill sponsored by Rep. Tanzi, if passed, would see this exemption overturned.
Bally’s had announced opposition to the bill, stating that both the Twin River Lincoln and Tiverton casinos meet regulatory requirements and offer adequate non-smoking sections.
Despite Bally’s protests, however, its ban came into effect on Friday 27 May, with Bally’s spokesperson Patti Doyle detailing in an email:
"Customers who wish to smoke must leave the table and use a smoking receptacle on the outer perimeter of the table games area. We have posted signage and ashtrays have been removed at the tables."
Smoking had been temporarily banned at the casinos during the Covid-19 mask mandate. As pandemic regulations were eased, the smoking ban was lifted, a decision met with pushback from casino employees and campaigners.
With this new announcement, it would appear the casinos will be smoke-free once again.
