Key points:
- Unions throughout the city have worked to ban smoking in casinos for more than three years
- A judge recently ruled in favor of continued indoor smoking in casinos
- However, indoor is illegal in other Garden State businesses
One Atlantic City casino union has called out Unite Here Local 54 President Donna DeCaprio because of her union’s stance on a citywide casino smoking ban, according to an Associated Press report.
Unite Here has taken the position that implementing a smoking ban could threaten jobs for casino workers.
However, unions pushing for the ban have accused Unite Here and its present of aligning with tobacco companies that are looking for anti-smoking restriction allies.
United Auto Workers Region 9 Assistant Director Ray Jensen told the AP that DeCaprio “should hand in her union card” and “should be ashamed of herself.”
These comments followed a recent decision by Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels who ruled in favor of allowing indoor casino smoking to continue. The decision was in response to a recent lawsuit filed by the UAW, a union that represents Bally’s Tropicana and Caesars casino dealers.
DeCaprio said that Unite Here “supports the health and safety of its members,” and told the AP that creating a balance between projecting jobs and employee health “needs to be reached.”She further commented, “We are protecting our members against multiple casino closures and job losses. The UAW is eager to sacrifice the entire casino industry and put 25,000 good jobs with benefits at risk.”
The debate over whether smoking should be allowed in Atlantic City’s casinos is not a new one.
Casino employees throughout the city have worked for more than three years to put a smoking ban in place, claiming that indoor casino smoking put their health at risk.
Good to know: 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.
