ANR UPDATE, 29(3), Fall 2010

Massachusetts' Fight for Smokefree Casinos

Facing dire budget shortfalls and seeking to create jobs, many states are considering the legalization of casinos. This trend presents a challenge to public health progress when states consider exempting casinos from existing smokefree workplace laws. Everyone, including casino workers, deserves a smokefree workplace. Advocates in states that already have smokefree laws now face urgent battles to ensure that new gambling venues are smokefree, just like all other workplaces.

Massachusetts, a state already covered by a strong smokefree law, almost legalized casinos this year. Before the bills died in the final hours of the legislative session, a key question was: would gaming facilities be 100% smokefree? Efforts to ensure that these venues would be smokefree began early in the discussions, and Governor Deval Patrick gave a verbal commitment to support a smokefree standard.

Here's how the story played out. In the Spring, the House enacted a bill that required casinos to be smokefree. In the face of casino industry pressure, a revised Senate bill was introduced in June that would have permitted smoking in 25% of gaming areas, ignoring all the science affirming that smoking sections don't protect people's health. In response to that, Senator Susan Fargo said, "I thought we were trying to create jobs here. Why create jobs for people who will sicken and die? This is the most hypocritical thing I've seen in my 14 years in the Senate."

Advocates worked to keep the focus on protecting all employees from toxic smoke in the workplace and they were greatly assisted when the United Auto Workers union, which represents card dealers, voiced its support for smokefree casinos. After intense efforts by both sides, a smokefree amendment to the Senate bill won by a vote of 24-15, and an amendment to expand smoking was defeated.

Despite opponents' eleventh hour attempts at political maneuvering, the final bills in both the House and Senate included the smokefree requirement. Massachusetts advocates won this battle for smokefree air and will remain vigilant in order to ensure that if casinos are finally legalized, they will be smokefree workplaces and public places.

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