Atlantic City Casino to Have Hearing on Smoking in Trenton This Month

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: February 8, 2023

Atlantic City casino will finally have its hearing on smoking this month when lawmakers in New Jersey start considering a permanent casino smoking prohibition. The 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act in New Jersey granted exemptions to the casinos in Atlantic City. In accordance with the legislation, which forbids indoor smoking in public environments and most workplaces, casinos may designate up to 25% of their gaming floor for smoking.

Senate Bill 264 and Assembly Bill 2151 are similar pieces of legislation that have been pending in the New Jersey State House for more than one year now. The goal of the bills is the same: to make smokers in Atlantic City casinos move outside. The battle in the legislature to make casinos go smoke-free has lasted for almost ten years. However, the best chance for a nonsmoking bill to pass appears to be during the 2022–2023 legislative session.

In fact, there is already enough support for both pieces of legislation to send them to Governor Phil Murphy’s (D) desk. The governor has mentioned in the past that he would sign such a law. Around 51 of the 80 assembly members are in favor of the Assembly bill. The Senate component has 23 cosponsors and sponsors in the 40-seat chamber.

If the legislators who have cosponsored the measures keep their word, AB2151/SB264 would most likely have a quick path to Murphy. But now that the Senate casino smoking measure is being discussed in committee, it is predicted that the casinos would engage in intense lobbying.

CEASE Says the Hearing Is an Opportunity to Tell Their Stories

The New Jersey Senate Health, Senior Citizens Committee, and Human Services announced recently that it will start to consider SB264 with a hearing to take place on February 13 in Trenton. The committee has cautioned supporters of anti-smoking that it does not intend to vote on the statute on the day of the hearing.

The grassroots coalition of Atlantic City casino workers that are fighting for a healthy air work environment mentioned that the hearing is a significant development. CEASE (Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects) said in a statement that the hearing is an opportunity to tell their stories about the almost two decades of diagnoses of asthma, heart disease, cancer, and more that have led more than half of all legislators to cosponsor the bills.

The Argument of the Nine Atlantic City Casinos

The nine casinos in Atlantic City contend that a smoking prohibition would make their properties less competitive with casinos in nearby Pennsylvania. Philadelphia casinos are permitted by Pennsylvania law to dedicate 25% of their gaming space for smoking. Pennsylvania is also attempting to close the loophole through legislative efforts.

A study was commissioned by CANJ (Casino Association of New Jersey) to determine the impact a ban on smoking would have on their businesses. According to the review, a ban on smoking would result in the loss of 2,500 jobs and reduce annual revenue for gaming by about 11%.

The casino industry in Atlantic City is the economic spine of South Jersey. CANJ said a year ago that a ban on smoking would lead to a drop in customers, ultimately leading to a decrease in gaming revenue, job losses, and a drop in tax revenue which benefits both the local economy and the state, as well as older citizens and those with disabilities in New Jersey. However, if the bill passes, it might see some gamblers shifting to online casino play in New Jersey in order to smoke at home.