A New Jersey judge has issued a ruling that will continue to allow smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos, according to a recent Associated Press report.
The decision was made by Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels in response to a recent lawsuit filed by The United Auto Workers, a union that represents Bally’s Tropicana and Caesars casino dealers.
The group sued to overturn the current law on the books that allows smoking inside Atlantic City’s nine casinos.
However, casino workers from the Local 54 of the Unite Here union and New Jersey’s attorney general pushed back by asking a state judge to dismiss the suit.
According to a motion filed in state Superior Court, Local 54 said a smoking ban could create significant job losses. The group claims that nearly a third of its 10,000 members “would be at risk of losing their jobs and the means to support their families if smoking were banned.”
Atlantic City casino employees have worked for more than three years to put a smoking ban in place, claiming that indoor casino smoking put their health at risk.
Indoor smoking has been banned in New Jersey since 2006. However, the current laws on the books make room for smoking in casinos and in simulcasting facilities, an allowance casino employees have pushed back against for more than three years.
Currently, smoking is allowed in Atlantic City’s casinos on 25% of the gaming floor. These spaces are not designed to contain smoke, causing it to waft into other areas of the casino.
New Jersey first revisited a possible casino-wide smoking ban after temporary bans during the Covid-19 pandemic were lifted in July 2021.
Following the decision to remove temporary bans, Atlantic City casino workers asked for permanent legislation that would prohibit smoking in casinos statewide.
Borgata dealer and anti-smoking movement leader Lamont White shared with the Associated Press that the fight to put a smoking ban back in place “is far from over.”
White went on to comment, “While today’s outcome is disappointing, our determination remains unshaken.”
