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Slot Parlors Top List of PA Smoking Ban Exceptions

The state of Pennsylvania recently became the most recent in the nation to implement a Clean Indoor Air Act designed to cut down on smoking in most indoor public areas. Many other states in America have such laws in place, with many more being discussed. Clean Indoor Air Acts are intended to almost eliminate second-hand smoke, with its many attendant health risks and negative social implications. Although most restaurants, shopping centers, and other places where large numbers of people might congregate are all affected by the Act, the most militant of Pennsylvania’s health groups are still maintaining that the new law has too many exceptions.

The biggest loopholes under the new non-smoking law are afforded to casinos. Under the Clean Indoor Air Act, gambling establishments may contact state regulators and request an expansion of their smoking areas if their slot machines are losing money. All “gaming floors” (as specified by the language of the Act) are allowed to make their official, designated smoking areas take up greater floor space if their slot games – the biggest casino moneymakers – aren’t doing as well as before.

Slot operators can ask for an official report by the Department of Revenue that analyzes and displays the gross terminal revenue per slot game device within the ninety day period that came before the request. If those slot machines located within the designated smoking section have revenues “equal[ing] or exceed[ing]” that of those located within the new nonsmoking parts of the gaming floor, the establishment may request and receive permission to expand the smoking-allowed section so that the square footage is in line with the ratio of smokers to nonsmokers.

Back to September 2008 Archive.