Bally’s Rhode Island Casinos Could Go Smoke-Free in Exchange for State Money

Posted on: June 6, 2025, 01:06h. 

Last updated on: June 23, 2025, 08:36h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Casino smoking in Rhode Island could be extinguished
  • Bally’s Corp. runs both brick-and-mortar casinos in the Ocean State
  • Bally’s might be willing to go smoke-free in exchange for more state cash

Bally’s Corporation might be willing to ease its opposition to ending indoor casino smoking at its two properties in Rhode Island, so claims one of the state’s longest and most powerful senators. The news comes after one of the state’s most influential lawmakers, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D-North Providence), a lifelong smoker who opposed efforts to end casino smoking, died in April of cancer.

Bally's Rhode Island casinos smoking
A file photo shows a person smoking a cigarette. The days of casino smoking being allowed inside Bally’s Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton in Rhode Island could be numbered after a powerful state Democrat revealed he’s nearing a compromise with the two video lottery properties. In exchange for going smoke-free, Bally’s will see their annual state marketing subsidy increase. (Image: Shutterstock)

Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader Franc Ciccone (D-Providence) tells the Rhode Island Current that a compromise is in the works that would make Bally’s Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton smoke-free establishments effective Jan. 1, 2027. In exchange, the state would agree to significantly increase the annual marketing subsidy the two casinos receive to promote their operations.

Under the 2004 Rhode Island Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, the state’s two casinos, along with parimutuel wagering facilities, can designate areas for tobacco use on the gaming floor, so long as nonsmoking gaming areas are physically separated from any smoking area and feature separate ventilation systems.

Several state lawmakers, chiefly Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-South Kingstown), have been working for years to close the casino smoking loophole. Many Bally’s workers, uniting as a Rhode Island chapter of CEASE, or Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, say it’s long overdue that they’re afforded the same health workplace protections as most other industries.

After years of lobbying and politicking, a solution could be on the horizon.

Marketing Bill Could Appease Both Sides

In the wake of Tanzi again filing legislation to close the gaming smoking carveouts, government affairs specialists at Bally’s worked with Ciccone to present a bill to increase the Lincoln and Tiverton annual marketing reimbursements.

Since Bally’s Lincoln and Tiverton operate slot-like video lottery terminals, with 60% of each machine’s gross gaming revenue and 15% of table game money going to the Rhode Island General Fund, the state directs a percentage of the tax benefit back to Bally’s to reimburse their marketing expenditures.

Under the current calculation, Bally’s receives a share of the state’s annual gaming tax to incentivize players to keep playing. It currently amounts to around $4 million a year. State law mandates that the casinos’ promotional benefit cannot grow by more than 3% in a given year.

Ciccone’s Senate Bill 1112, which has broad support in the General Assembly and passed the Senate on Tuesday with a 32-4 vote, would eliminate the 3% cap condition and increase the annual percentage back.

The Rhode Island Department of Revenue reports that the two casinos would receive about $6.75 million annually under current gaming revenue levels should Ciccone’s bill become law.

Not a Done Deal 

Ciccone tells the Rhode Island Current that if the state agrees to the promo money hike, Bally’s could be willing to ease its opposition to going smoke-free.

Ciccone plans to file an amendment or introduce companion legislation to his SB1112 that would require the Bally’s Rhode Island casinos to end indoor smoking by Jan. 1, 2027. Though Tanzi questioned why the state would continue to force casino workers to ensure secondhand smoke for another 18 months, Rhode Island ALF-CIO President Patrick Crowley, whose union represents Bally’s employees, celebrated the development.

Still, Bally’s spokesperson Patti Doyle said the “conversations … are ongoing.”

A major obstacle to forcing the casinos to end smoking was eliminated when Ruggerio died in April. An admitted lifelong smoker, Ruggerio said in April 2023 that if “smoking offends you, you can stay home and gamble.”

Rhode Island is one of only seven states with legal iGaming. Ruggerio died of an unspecified type of cancer.