Smoke-Free Atlantic City Casinos: A Game Changer for New Jersey?
Calls multiply to establish smoke-free gambling establishments in New Jersey
In a surprise twist, three-fourths of Philadelphia-area residents express a desire to visit Atlantic City casinos more frequently if the gaming floors were smoke-free, according to a recent survey. This revelation comes as a gaming executive and labor leader call for a ban on smoking in New Jersey casinos.
The legislative landscape surrounding this issue has been fluid. A bill to remove the casino exemption from New Jersey’s clean-indoor-air law was slated for a vote this week in a state Senate committee hearing. However, on Wednesday, the bill's leading sponsor announced a decision to pull the bill from consideration during this session of the legislature, which ends late this month.
The survey, conducted by Normington Petts, a Washington, D.C., polling and campaign strategy firm, reveals that "tourism could actually increase" with a smoking ban, as 74 percent of respondents expressed a preference for entirely smoke-free casinos.
Bronson Frick, director of advocacy for the Americans Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, one of the survey sponsors, revealed that 29 percent of respondents identified as smokers—more than double the national adult smoking rate of 11.5 percent.
Contrary to the perpetuated notion that visitors from Philadelphia shun smoke-free Atlantic City casinos, Frick emphasizes that secondhand smoke is not the primary factor influencing where people choose to gamble. He notes that support for a ban was strong even among smokers.
Recent videos released by the Americans Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation feature gaming professionals explaining the adverse effects of being exposed to secondhand smoke. These videos depict industry veterans exposing the risk to employees and the difficulties they face, like being unable to turn away when a player lights up.
Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, who represents dealers at three Atlantic City casinos, has penned a letter to New Jersey legislators, insisting on a total ban of smoking on gambling floors. The union will monitor their votes on this matter.
Although more than half of each New Jersey legislative chamber co-sponsors bills to end the casino exemption to the state’s smoke-free law, the bill has not yet been brought to the floor of either chamber.
Frick anticipates the bill will be approved during the current lame-duck session, despite last-minute attempts by the New Jersey Casino Association to delay or water down the measure. This includes proposals for allowing indoor smoking rooms.
Frick cites examples from other industries, such as airlines, restaurants, hotels, and other public spaces that have implemented smoke-free policies despite initial resistance. In 2006, Westin Hotels became the first nationwide chain to ban smoking, against the policy position of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The ban aimed to reduce costs, increase worker efficiency, and eventually became the industry standard.
Twenty-one states require commercial casinos to be smoke-free, with many tribal operators voluntarily enforcing bans. Philadelphia's Parx Casino, the city's top-grossing operation, is already smoke-free.
New Jersey casinos could follow suit, making it the first state to enforce a total smoking ban post-pandemic. If passed, this measure would set a significant precedent for the gaming industry and reinforce the health benefits of smoke-free environments, potentially reducing health-care costs and employee turnover.
[1] The bill has advanced to the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee and is awaiting a vote in both chambers.[3] A recent South Jersey poll shows overwhelming support for the legislation to ban smoking in casinos, with 83% of respondents in favor.[5] Governor Phil Murphy and casino workers are urging candidates for governor to support a complete smoking ban in Atlantic City casinos.
- The gaming culture in smoke-free Atlantic City casinos could potentially attract more casino-gambling enthusiasts, as a survey reveals that 74 percent of respondents prefer smoke-free gaming floors.
- Support for a smoke-free casino-and-gambling environment extends beyond non-smokers; even smokers favor the ban, as shown by the survey sponsored by the Americans Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, with 29 percent of respondents identifying as smokers.
