By
Jerry Smith
Staff Writer Updated: 02/26/2024
Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.
Indoor Smoking Legislation
There is a new legislative effort underway that seeks to address indoor smoking regulations within Atlantic City’s casinos. Senate Bill 2651 is led by Senator John Burzichelli and co-sponsored by bipartisan support. The bill hopes to make changes to the current regulations when it comes to indoor smoking in the area’s casinos.
Under the current legislation, which dates back to New Jersey’s 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act, casinos are able to allocate up to 25 percent of their gaming floor space for smoking. However, concerns have been voiced by resort employees regarding secondhand smoke exposure, and this has prompted calls for revisions. SB 2651 aims to address these concerns by proposing specific modifications to existing laws.
One key change proposed by the bill is the requirement for designated smoking areas to be situated at least fifteen feet away from casino pits where live dealer table games are offered. The bill also permits the creation of fully enclosed interior smoking rooms within casinos, but these must only house slot machines.
As part of the proposed bill, casino employees will not be made to work within these enclosed spaces, and separate ventilation systems will be required to prevent the spread of smoke throughout the main casino floor.
However, reactions to the proposed legislation have been mixed. Casino Employees Against Smoke Effects (CEASE), which is an organization that represents casino workers, has criticized the bill as insufficient in addressing their concerns for a smoke-free workplace.
The American Cancer Society has also slated the bill, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive measures to safeguard public health.
The ACS said that the cancer risks and other health effects associated with second-hand smoke have been known since the 1980s. The association added:
Yet despite the crystal-clear proof that exposure to second-hand smoke is bad and that smoke-free laws work, lawmakers continue to force Atlantic City workers to choose between their paycheck and breathing in second-hand smoke.
Despite these concerns, some officials are worried about the impact of a complete smoking ban inside casinos.
The Casino Association of New Jersey, which represents the interests of the nine casinos in the region, has voiced concerns regarding the potential economic impact of a full smoking ban. Officials argued that this type of full ban could lead to decreased gaming revenue and widespread job losses, potentially even resulting in the closure of one or more casino resorts.
This is because many gamblers like to smoke when they are playing at casinos, and a complete ban on smoking could lead to a sharp drop in the number of smokers going to casinos simply because they are no longer allowed to light up.
The rules relating to indoor smoking in casinos vary across state lines. While Atlantic City is in the midst of dealing with proposed reforms, many Pennsylvania casinos continue to permit smoking on their premises. Senator Burzichelli said that SB 2651 strikes a balance between addressing public health concerns and accommodating the interests of the gaming industry.
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