Indoor casino smoking regulations are poised for significant legislative review across multiple states in 2025, with potential changes that could affect the 15 states currently allowing smoking in commercial gambling facilities.

CEASE (Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects), backed by the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation (ANRF), is spearheading efforts to eliminate indoor smoking in casinos. The organization, which began in New Jersey, has expanded to include chapters in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Key developments and facts:

• New Jersey, Kansas, and Missouri are the most likely states to consider tobacco legislation in 2025
• The CDC confirms there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke
• Designated smoking areas and most air filtration systems prove largely ineffective
• Over 19,000 deaths annually are attributed to secondhand smoke exposure
• Casino workers face increased health risks due to prolonged exposure

Current challenges include:

• Casino industry claims about potential business losses and job cuts
• Varying research results depending on study sponsors
• Less than 20% of adults smoke, yet tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death

CEASE co-founder Pete Naccarelli emphasizes that casino workers deserve the same health protections as other workers, citing numerous colleagues who now require medical intervention or have developed cancer after working in smoke-filled environments.

The U.S. Surgeon General's recent report specifically identifies casino workers as a high-risk group due to extended exposure to smoking environments, supporting the push for comprehensive smoking bans in gaming establishments.

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