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September 2, 2021
3 min read
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Atlantic City Has Decided: No More Tobacco in New Jersey Casinos
New Jersey’s laws that allow smoking in the state’s casinos may soon be a thing of the past. On August 25, the Atlantic City Council voted in favor of Senate Bill 1878 that aims to completely ban indoor smoking and finally resolve what many considered to be a problem.
Involved Parties Lay Down Their Arguments and Concerns
Although local casinos were all but happy to hear this, the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights movement was quite thankful for the government’s decision. ANSR’s president and CEO, Cynthia Hallett, released a statement on the matter where she said that now non-smoker casino workers won’t have to ruin their health for a paycheck.
Under the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, casinos were allowed to have as much as a quarter of their total play area dedicated to smokers. Although non-smoking clients still had a lot of space, non-smoking casino employees who worked in that area had to deal with tobacco.
Casino owners are quite unhappy about the prospects of smoking being banned as they fear that it will hurt their revenues. In turn, the anti-smoking movement points out that many casinos throughout the United States have banned tobacco and are yet to experience any income drop because of it. On the contrary, statistics showed that Pennsylvania’s market is on a steep rise regardless of the cigarette ban.
ANSR’s Hallet pointed out these facts and emphasized that there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that people will stop frequenting casinos over a smoke ban.
A Tough Fight Ahead
Although the Atlanta City Council supports the smoke ban, changes to the state’s laws are yet to be approved by the Senate. In an interview with Casino.org, Hallett said that Senate President Stephen Sweeney is the biggest opponent of the Bill. Sweeney’s reasoning is that COVID-19 has already hurt business a lot, and a smoke ban may add further weight on casino owners’ shoulders.
Because of the tough fight ahead, the anti-smoke movement has started gathering supporters to show the importance of a change. Its supporters include lawmakers, business owners, and casino workers. Hallett is hellbent to use everything in her power to get the ban passed.
“State legislators will have no choice but to pass this legislation during the lame-duck session later this year. Tired industry arguments for keeping indoor smoking no longer carry weight, especially since Atlantic City casinos thrived while operating smoke-free,” she declared.
The Bill’s co-authors Senator Shirley Turner and Joseph Vitale, have also pointed out the higher risk of lung disease that casino workers are exposed to. According to research, the air in casinos can have up to 50 times more cancer-causing particles than the air on rush-hour highways.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy commented that the anti-smokers case is compelling. However, the Senate is yet to take any action for or against Bill 1878.
Yasmin is an iGaming and gaming journalist with over 10 years of writing about various publications. Her experience spans the entirety of iGaming, traditional sports, as well as online poker. She is well-versed in every aspect of online gaming and her wealth of knowledge provides additional substance to our coverage.
8 Comments
The 25 % is bogus they smoke in non smoking areas and the casino does nothing to stop them. With no ashtrays the put out on carpet between slots on the foot stool area on walls ashes everywhere. It’s a joke the air quality is so bad.
I don’t think people, namely legislators, understand just what these employees have to face day in and day out. Dealers, in particular, can not stand back, walk away, or even wave smoke from their face without risking termination. Meanwhile, patrons are not required to wear masks and sometimes blatantly and purposely blow smoke right in the dealers’ faces especially after losing a hand. Yes…casino workers signed up for this, but once the Smoke Free Air Act of NJ banned smoking in virtually every place of public access, EXCEPT CASINOS, it became a matter of discrimination. This exemption sends a clear message that casino worker’s health is not nearly as important as profit. Ironically, Atlantic City just posted record breaking operating profits for the 2nd quarter of 2021, while Governor Murphy’s temporary smoking ban was still in place. Collectively, they made 11% more than the pre-pandemic 2nd quarter of 2019. Meanwhile, the 25% non smoking requirement is a joke because the casinos simply count closed games as non-smoking tables. At this point, there is no excuse, no logical reason, and no legitimate argument to keep Senate bill 1878 from advancing so we can finally close this inhumane, corrupt, and unsubstantiated loophole once and for all.
Allowing smoking is a great way to spread COVID and other illnessess. What is the point of a cloth mask if second hand smoke is flying through the air??? Many more customers do not smoke then those that do, and the cost of related employee health and casino 3rd hand smoke cleanup greatly exceeds any percieved financial benefit, so what is the real reason the casino wants to allow it? Is the tobacco industry giving kickbacks or other incentives to casino execs or Sweeny?
Please ban smoking. It’s very unhealthy and dangerous especially during times of a COVID pandemic. Thank you
I support the smoking ban. The smokers are use to going outside to smoke for all other NJ buildings, why should casinos be any different.
Well, I won’t be giving the casinos a penny anymore . I don’t want any of my money to go to ac casino employees anymore. Starve for all I care. Will be disconnecting all my rewards cards goodby a.c
I hope New Jersey does ban smoking period in the casinos. Sad that this has gone on this long with New Jersey and especially Nevada. So many estaishments across the country has finally banned smoking and are thriving. The casinos in the Buffalo area of New York are smoke free and were packed on a recent visit this past summer.
I dont understand why people would get a job that they know that people are going to smoke and then complain about it. I’m not a smoker but I have enough sense to know that if it bothers me I wouldn’t work there. I admit I dont like the smell of cigarettes or cigars but I avoid these types of places. To the smokers and non smokers I wish you well.