Smoking Ban in Missouri Casinos Is Lagging, Kansas Ban Already Failed

Smoking is still permitted across all 13 casino gaming floors in Missouri, and lawmakers have once again introduced House Bill 1618 in the state General Assembly aimed at requiring casinos to provide smoke-free environments. However, the legislative deadline is approaching fast, so it’s absolutely possible that the bill might not have enough time to go through. In addition, a similar bill in Kansas has failed, despite previous projections that it would be signed into law.

Missouri’s Smoke Ban in Casinos is Stuck in Endless Discussion

But back to Missouri – the state currently allows smoking indoors in casinos thanks to a special exemption in the state’s 1993 Clean Indoor Air Law. However, House Bill 1618 (HB1618) aims to revise that by eliminating the exemption. The proposal still faces a lengthy path forward, especially as the legislature in Jefferson City approaches adjournment for 2026.

Interestingly, things seemed to be much more positive for HB1618 earlier in the year, as it was introduced with bipartisan backing. The measure, authored by state Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R-Montgomery), is co-sponsored by two fellow Republicans and four Democrats.

The bill received two readings on the House floor in January but has yet to be assigned to a committee for initial consideration. However, with the Missouri General Assembly set to adjourn on May 15, the chances of ending casino smoking this year appear slim, as time might run out.

One reason why discussions on HB 1618 seem to have fallen behind is the other gambling-related issues that legislators have been talking about in recent weeks. Just last week, for example, a new legislation to regulate slot machines narrowly passed the House. This is part of a broader effort by the state to control “gray market” slot games. In fact, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has already started targeting illegal gambling machines, focusing specifically on video lottery terminals (VLTs)  that have previously operated in a gray legal area.

Anti-Smoking Bills in Kansas Fail

Meanwhile, in neighboring Kansas, Senate Bill 176, which aimed to amend the Kansas Clean Air Act of 2010 to clear secondhand smoke from the state’s four casinos, has already failed. Kansas Senate Bill 176 has remained idle since February after being referred to the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs, which drafted the measure at the request of state Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Johnson). 

A companion measure in the Kansas House of Representatives, backed by Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, has also stalled. House Bill 2252 has sat for weeks in the House Committee on Health and Human Services without any action.  The Kansas Legislature isn’t to adjourn until April 10. However, SB176 and HB2252 are dead in the water for now as they failed to cross over to the other chamber before the state’s crossover day, which was on February 19.