The list of lawmakers supporting the ban on smoking in the casinos in Atlantic City keeps growing. Assembly members William Spearman and Carol Murphy are the most recent, bringing the number of the lower house to 35, six short of the majority needed for passage of the bill. According to NJ Online Gambling, 16 Senators have endorsed the proposal, which is five short.
The session ends June 30, which means it is unlikely the votes will be there in time, especially with hearings required before a vote in each house.
Just as well—having the ban go into effect over the summer months may be impractical. Some out-of-state visitors, including wealthy gamblers, could have booked trips to Atlantic City, counting on the smoking sections to still be in place.
Then again, if it were possible to pass the measure, the effective date could be set for after Labor Day.
“Passing this legislation is the least we can do for frontline casino employees who worked throughout the pandemic, keeping our already struggling gaming industry open for business during some of the bleakest moments over the last couple of years,” Spearman said in a press release. “We know that a healthy, smoke-free indoor casino industry is good for business and even better for workers.”
Said Murphy, “The dangers of secondhand smoke have been well documented for many years and for Atlantic City casino workers, getting rid of smoking in their workplace is a life-or-death fight.”
While casino executives in Atlantic City have warned of dire consequences that could result from a smoking ban, advocates of such a measure point to improved financial figures noted by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. First quarter results of $155.6 million was the most profitable since 2008.
“The findings released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement continue to undercut claims by casino executives that cite revenue falling short of pre-pandemic levels as the central reason for opposing efforts to make casinos smoke-free indoors,” Chris Moyer, a spokesperson for Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, said in a statement issued to NJ Online Gambling.
John DeCree, gaming equities analyst for CBRE, said the ban could cost the casinos 20 to 25 percent of their gaming revenue. The mid-decade closure of five casinos has left an ugly taste for many, and whether that makes lawmakers reticent about change remains to be seen.
