New Jersey Senate to Vote on Casino Smoking Ban After November Elections

Article by : Erik Gibbs Oct 23, 2023

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In the debate over the smoking ban in Atlantic City casinos, there is notable support and opposition. The three state lawmakers representing Atlantic City in the state capital all favor the prohibition of smoking within the city’s nine gambling establishments.

This stance is complemented by the Atlantic City City Council, which passed a resolution in support of the ban. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union, representing approximately 1,200 casino dealers in Atlantic City, also stands behind the move to close the casino smoking loophole.

Earlier this year, Assemblyman Don Guardian, a Democrat and the former mayor of Atlantic City, expressed his support by emphasizing the importance of safeguarding individuals from secondhand smoke’s harmful effects.

On the contrary, several noteworthy groups and individuals oppose the smoking ban outlined in S264.

This includes the Casino Association of New Jersey, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey, the New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and UNITE HERE Local 54.

The division of opinion on the matter highlights the complexity of the issue and the interests at stake. Atlantic City casinos are apprehensive about the potential loss of gamblers if a smoking ban is implemented.

Under the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2006, AC casinos were granted an exemption from an indoor smoking ban. Currently, they are allowed to designate up to 25% of their gaming floors as smoking areas.

These casinos argue that a complete smoking ban would place them at a competitive disadvantage.

The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) estimates that the region could suffer a substantial 20% to 25% drop in annual in-person casino revenue.

Advocates of the ban point to non-smoking casino properties, some of which, like MGM National Harbor, outperform Atlantic City’s casinos. Notably, 20 states, including neighboring New York, prohibit smoking inside gaming facilities.

In response to a report by various sources, Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, expressed her satisfaction with the prospect of ending indoor smoking in casinos, emphasizing the need to protect the health of Atlantic City casino workers.

By closing the casino smoking loophole, Atlantic City’s casinos would align with the growing trend of 100% smoke-free indoor environments, appealing to a new generation of guests who prefer such a smoke-free experience.