Atlantic City casino workers left disappointed by NJ Gov. State of the State Address

Article by : Charles Perrin Jan 15, 2025

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy sidestepped the pressing casino smoking debate during his 2025 State of the State Address on Tuesday.

Atlantic City casino workers have been locked in a battle for 4 years to remove exemptions that currently allow patrons to smoke inside 9 casino establishments.

Demonstrations have been held over the past few months in relation to the New Jersey Smoke-Free Act, but casinos have contended that a change to the bill passed in 2006 would result in a drop off in in-person casino visitation.

However, casino workers would have been left short changed as Murphy chose to discuss the success of his governorship instead and delivered a motivational call to arms.

In his address, Murphy said: “I have your back. I always have, and I always will. The people of New Jersey deserve leaders who fight for them.

“Over the next 12 months, I challenge all of us to live and breathe a simple yet bold mission: To fight to ensure every one of our neighbors is economically secure to make their future in the Garden State.

“To fight for every parent struggling to afford the cost of groceries, gas, housing, and a college education. And to fight relentlessly to ensure that our laws protect our most vulnerable just as well as they protect our most powerful.

“Because the vision has always been a stronger and fairer New Jersey — nothing less.”

Gov. Murphy has previously stressed that he would sign a bill to extinguish casino smoking once it reached his table, but so far, he has invested little political capital on the matter.

Casino Employees Against Casino Smoking, or CEASE for short, are desperate to see the loophole closed, but Atlantic City has been hit by economic hardships.

Figures revealed by the U.S. Census Bureau showed the unemployment rate in Atlantic City was above the 7% mark in November 2024 while the average household income of $36,000 is a third of the statewide rate of $101,000.

Atlantic City casino workers will attest that Gov. Murphy failed to pick up the baton at a prime moment by avoiding talking about an issue that affects so many.

While Murphy might suggest otherwise, the smoking debate could dissipate into thin air unless serious action is taken.