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7/3/2025
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New law to include casinos in workplace smoking ban
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STATE HOUSE — Legislation introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski to include casinos in the state’s statute prohibiting smoking in workplaces has become law.
The act (2025-S 0188Aaa) repeals the exemption granted to pari-mutuel facilities and casinos from the smoke-free workplace requirement contained in the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, commencing July 1, but grants an exemption to a “pari-mutual facility smoking lounge,” which is defined as an enclosed area, including, but not limited to, a cigar bar, within any pari-mutual facility with a proper ventilation system that will prevent the migration of smoke to nonsmoking areas.
“Everyone deserves to breathe clean air in the workplace,” said Senator Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown), who sponsored the original Rhode Island Workers’ Safety Act, which banned smoking in places of employment in 2004. “Yes, we want a casino that’s making money because we depend on that revenue; but we want our workers to be strong, healthy and vibrant as they’re making money for our state. I appreciate all the workers who have been there for years waiting for a smoke-free atmosphere.”
Casinos were previously exempted from the 2004 Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, which workers and advocates say has a detrimental impact on casino workers. When Rhode Island’s two casinos reopened in June 2020 following the COVID 19 shutdown, they prohibited indoor smoking as a safety measure. In March of 2022, they reinstated smoking in designated gaming floors.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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