Changes to PA's Clean Indoor Air Act would end smoking in casinos

WTAE

16 March 2022

PENNSYLVANIA CASINOS. MIKE: PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 REPORTER BOB MAYO IS LIVE NOW - WITH MORE ON THE PLAN - THAT WOULD BAN SMOKING ON THE GAMING FLR. BOB: WE ARE LIVE AT NEW RIVERS CASI.NO PENNSYLVANIA HAS H AAD CLEAN INDOOR AIR LAW THAT REGULATES SMOKING IN PUBLIC SPACES AND WORKPLACES. BUT THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS, AMONG THEM, FOR CASINOS. >> PENNSYLVANIANS SHOULD NOT HA TVEO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR JOBS AND THEIR HEALTH. BOB: STATEEP RRESENTATIVE DAN FRANKEL AND STATE SENATOR JAY COSTA SAY ITS TIME TO CLOSE WHAT THEY CALL LOOPHOLES IN PENNSYLVANIA’S LAW REGULATING SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLAC.ES WHEN CASINOS WERE OPEN WITH PANDEMIC MASK REQUIREMENTS, IT MEANT NO SMOKING. SOME CASINOS ELSEWHERE HE DECIDED NOT TO BRING BACK SMOKING. T>>HEY’VE NOT LOST REVENUE, BUT PATRONS ARE CONTINUING TO COME TO THOSE LOCATIONS WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT NOT ONLY CASINOS, BUT OERTH LOCATIONARS E DOING THE SAME THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. BOB: THEY AREGU THAT HEALTH DAMAGE FROM SECOND-HAND SMOKE IS A DANGER TO CASINO EMPLOYEES. FORMER RIVERS CASINO EMPLOYEE NICHOLE GALLAGHER HAS MILD ASTHMA, SAYS THAT SHE KEPT VEDELOPING BRONCHITIS. >> I WORKED WHEN I WAS SICK BECAUSE I HAD TO WORK AND THE MONEY WAS GOOD AND I GOTOR W FROM WORKING IN CIGARETTE SMOKE. BOB: WE SPOKWIE TH SMOKING AND NON-SMOKING MBGALERS HERE WHO FAVOR SOME SORT OF SMOKING AREA. >> I WANT TO GIVE THEM ALA P TO GO,EC BAUSE I HAVE ACTUALLY LEFT A WINNING MACHINE IN A CASINO, JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS SMOKING NEXT TO ME AND THE SMOKE WAS GOING LITERALLY RIGHT IN MY FA.CE >> I PROBABLY WOULD RESORT T MORE ONLINE BETTING IF THEY DON’T PERMIT SMOKING INSE.ID BOB: SO YOU DON’T AGREE WITH THEIR PASSING A TOUGHER LAW ON THIS? >> NO,O. N BOB: RIVERS CASINO IS NOT OPPOSING OR BACKING ANY CHANGE IN STATE LAW. >> WE’RE A HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRY. THE MOST REGULATED INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY, REAY.LL WE WILL ABIDE BY WHATEVER THE WISDOM OF HARRISBURG I BOB: A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AMERICAN LG ASSOCIATION AND THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE WERE AMONG THOSE ON HAND ENDORSING THE PROPOLSA TO TIGHTEN UP PENNSYLVANIA’S IN

State Rep. Dan Frankel and Sen. Jay Costa say its time to close what they call loopholes in Pennsylvania's law regulating smoking in public places. That would mean ending exemptions for places like casinos and private clubs.Watch the full report in the video player above. "If we cannot count on private businesses to do the right thing, even when it's the financially smart thing to do, then it's time for political leaders to step in and insist on the protection of the health of our constituents," said Frankel, D-Allegheny, 23rd District.Frankel said when casinos were open with pandemic mask requirements, it meant no smoking for gamblers and casinos did not lose revenue. He and Costa argue that the damage to health from secondhand smoke is a danger to casino employees who are faced with exposure while serving smoking customers.Pittsburgh's Action News 4 sought reaction from Rivers Casino.John Donnelly, counsel to Rivers Casino, said, "It's a controversial issue. A lot of people, a lot of our patrons do smoke and like to smoke. A lot of patrons don't like it. It's a national issue and a local issue, it's happening all over the country." Donnelly said Rivers Casino is not taking a stand against or for the proposal to entirely ban smoking in casinos."We're a highly regulated industry. The most regulated industry in the country, really. We will abide by whatever the wisdom of Harrisburg is," Donnelly said.Some casinos elsewhere have decided not to bring back smoking since masking has been lifted."They've not lost revenue, but patrons are continuing to come to those locations. And we need to make sure that not only casinos but other locations are doing the same thing that needs to be done," Costa, D-Allegheny, and PA Senate Minority Leader, said.Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said, "We need to make this same thing happen in our casinos and in other private clubs, that these workers are protected.""Pennsylvanians should not have to choose between their jobs and their health," Frankel said.Former Rivers Casino employee Nichole Gallagher spoke at the lawmakers' news conference. She has mild asthma and says she kept developing bronchitis while working as a server to smoking customers."I worked when I was sick because I had to work and the money was good and I got worse from working in cigarette smoke," Gallagher said.Molly Pisciottano of the American Lung Association and the Breath Free PA Coalition said lawmakers should close loopholes in the PA Clean Indoor Air Act."We know people do have the right to breathe clean air and should not be exposed to these harmful toxins can cause lung cancer and exacerbate other lung health issues such as asthma and COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)," Pisciottano said.Some smoking and non-smoking gamblers who spoke with Pittsburgh's Action News 4 outside Rivers Casino said they favor having some sort of smoking area available there."I want to give them a place to go because I've actually left a winning machine in a casino, just because somebody was smoking next to me and the smoke was going literally right in my face," said Peggy Franzese, a non-smoker from Hopewell Township. Mona Spehar, a smoker from Shaler said, "I probably would resort to more online betting if they don't permit smoking inside." She said she doesn't agree with the proposal to pass a tougher law in Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act was passed in 2008. It regulates smoking in public places and workplaces.

PITTSBURGH —

Watch the full report in the video player above.

"If we cannot count on private businesses to do the right thing, even when it's the financially smart thing to do, then it's time for political leaders to step in and insist on the protection of the health of our constituents," said Frankel, D-Allegheny, 23rd District.

Frankel said when casinos were open with pandemic mask requirements, it meant no smoking for gamblers and casinos did not lose revenue. He and Costa argue that the damage to health from secondhand smoke is a danger to casino employees who are faced with exposure while serving smoking customers.

Pittsburgh's Action News 4 sought reaction from Rivers Casino.

John Donnelly, counsel to Rivers Casino, said, "It's a controversial issue. A lot of people, a lot of our patrons do smoke and like to smoke. A lot of patrons don't like it. It's a national issue and a local issue, it's happening all over the country."

Donnelly said Rivers Casino is not taking a stand against or for the proposal to entirely ban smoking in casinos.

"We're a highly regulated industry. The most regulated industry in the country, really. We will abide by whatever the wisdom of Harrisburg is," Donnelly said.

Some casinos elsewhere have decided not to bring back smoking since masking has been lifted.

"They've not lost revenue, but patrons are continuing to come to those locations. And we need to make sure that not only casinos but other locations are doing the same thing that needs to be done," Costa, D-Allegheny, and PA Senate Minority Leader, said.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said, "We need to make this same thing happen in our casinos and in other private clubs, that these workers are protected."

"Pennsylvanians should not have to choose between their jobs and their health," Frankel said.

Former Rivers Casino employee Nichole Gallagher spoke at the lawmakers' news conference. She has mild asthma and says she kept developing bronchitis while working as a server to smoking customers.

"I worked when I was sick because I had to work and the money was good and I got worse from working in cigarette smoke," Gallagher said.

Molly Pisciottano of the American Lung Association and the Breath Free PA Coalition said lawmakers should close loopholes in the PA Clean Indoor Air Act.

"We know people do have the right to breathe clean air and should not be exposed to these harmful toxins can cause lung cancer and exacerbate other lung health issues such as asthma and COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)," Pisciottano said.

Some smoking and non-smoking gamblers who spoke with Pittsburgh's Action News 4 outside Rivers Casino said they favor having some sort of smoking area available there.

"I want to give them a place to go because I've actually left a winning machine in a casino, just because somebody was smoking next to me and the smoke was going literally right in my face," said Peggy Franzese, a non-smoker from Hopewell Township.

Mona Spehar, a smoker from Shaler said, "I probably would resort to more online betting if they don't permit smoking inside."

She said she doesn't agree with the proposal to pass a tougher law in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act was passed in 2008. It regulates smoking in public places and workplaces.