The debate on banning smoking in Atlantic City casinos pressed on as the New Jersey state legislature recently held a public hearing on the matter.
Smoking inside bars, restaurants and other public places was already banned due to the Clean Air Act in 2006. The law, however, had a provision allowing casinos to permit smoking on 25 percent of their floors.
Senator Joe Vitale said putting in the provision was the only way to get the bill passed, but said he introduced new legislation to remove the exception. It has stalled for years but now seems to be on track.
“It’s a very big day,” Vitale told NJ Advance Media regarding the public hearing. “It’s a long time coming. I know this legislation will eventually pass. This is an important step along the way.”
Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights told NJ.com that the hearing has been a long time coming.
“This hearing means that Atlantic City casino workers are one step closer to not having to choose between their health and a paycheck,” said Hallett. “It’s a historic moment in the fight to protect the health of thousands of New Jersey workers.”
The Casino Association of New Jersey has long opposed the measure, claiming it would hurt casinos’ profits by causing customers to go to neighboring states that have gambling.
The only problem with that logic is that many of the states near New Jersey that have casinos, including Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia, are all in the midst of banning smoking. New York, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland have already outlawed smoking in their casinos.
“The narrative that the industry uses is just a red flag,” Vitale said. “To even have to consider the economic consequences of a smoking ban is just cynical and plain wrong.”
“No other group of workers in our state must deal with secondhand smoke like we do — two feet in front of our faces, without even the ability to turn our heads because we’re watching over the chips on the table,” said the group Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, or CEASE, in a statement.
As expected, the hearing was well-attended.
Several members of CEASE, as well as public health officials and casino patrons spoke about how they don’t want smoking in the casinos before the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee.
Casino dealer Lamont White, recalled his colleague Joe, who didn’t smoke or drink but died in his 50s of cancer. White told the hearing he wonders how much secondhand smoke he’s inhaled himself in 38 years in the casino business.
No one from the Casino Association of New Jersey attended the hearing, though Vitale was surprised at the no-show.
“I’m surprised that the casino industry didn’t come themselves,” Vitale said after the hearing. “But you know, it’s unpleasant to be embarrassed in a public setting.”
After the hearing the topic on when a vote will be taken was brought up. Legislatures from both parties support the ban but said they have no timetable for a vote.
The state Senate and Assembly would have to pass the bill, then it would go to the desk of Governor Phil Murphy, who has already said he would sign it.
“It takes a village on a lot of the stuff you do in the state,” the governor said. “I can’t sign bills that don’t get to my desk.”
“Having said that, on this one, I’ve been where I’ve been, which is: If a bill that does that gets to my desk, I will sign it,” Murphy added. “And God willing, it will get to my desk.”
