Under state law that exempts casinos from public smoking prohibitions in Pennsylvania’s 2008 Clean Indoor Air Act, each casino has leeway to permit smoking on up to 50% of the gaming floor, though some keep it to a lower share than half.
In 11 casinos, meanwhile, including the new Hollywood Casino York that opened in August, smokers can puff on the gaming floor today.
Two others - Rivers Philadelphia and Live! Philadelphia - were required by the Philadelphia Health Department to resume smoking bans soon after the state restriction was lifted. Two casinos - Parx and Mount Airy Casino Resort - independently opted to continue keeping their smokers outside, despite longtime contentions by the Pennsylvania casino industry that the loss of patrons’ smoking privileges could cut into gaming revenue.
A curious thing happened when Pennsylvania regulators allowed casinos to open their gaming floors to smokers again on June 28, after a restriction tied to COVID-19 precautions and mask mandates was lifted.
