Prominent anti-smoking groups on Friday heralded recent comments by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy regarding potential legislation that could result in a permanent ban on smoking in Atlantic City casinos.
Both Smoke Free AC and Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) noted Murphy put in place a temporary ban on smoking in the city’s casinos in July 2020, when the properties reopened after closing for Covid-mitigation purposes earlier in the year.
New Jersey ended the no-smoking policy on July 4, 2021.
ANR on Friday republished a front-page story from The Press of Atlantic City. The news organization said the governor supports closing the casino loophole on indoor smoking policies and would sign a bill if passed by the state legislature.
According to the ANR, advocates and frontline casino workers have pushed for the New Jersey legislature to act on the issue during the November lame duck session.
In the article, Murphy is quoted both directly and indirectly as offering his approval.
“You should assume that I will sign it,” Murphy is reported as saying during an interview with a local television news station earlier this week.
The Press quotes Bob Zlotnick, co-founder of Smoke Free AC, as saying of potential legislation, “It has to get through the Assembly first. We are hopeful, it is really good news that Gov. Murphy said that, but if it doesn’t hit his desk he has nothing to sign.”
Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, said in a statement: “We are grateful for the governor’s clear answer that he would sign legislation to close the casino loophole and protect the health of gaming employees while they are at work. However, we know that Senate President (Steve) Sweeney, in particular, stands in the way. The governor must go further and publicly call for Sen. Sweeney and Speaker (Craig) Coughlin to send a bill to his desk in the lame duck session. Atlantic City casino workers cannot wait any longer.”
According to The Press, six state officials have co-sponsored legislation in the Senate that would end the smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. Democratic Sens. Shirley Turner and Joseph Vitale are the primary sponsors of the bill.
The news organization noted the 2007 New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act eliminated indoor smoking for most establishments in the state, but gave an exemption for Atlantic City’s casinos. Atlantic City passed its own ordinance that same year restricting casino smoking to no more than 25% of the gaming floor.
The Press quoted officials with the Casino Association of New Jersey as saying the ban on smoking would place Atlantic City casinos at a “competitive disadvantage” with other nearby casinos that allow the practice.
“A smoking ban would have a significant adverse effect on Atlantic City, resulting in a decline in customers which would cause job loss, and ultimately a decline in tax revenue,” the trade group is reported as saying.
Americans for Nonsmoker’s Rights is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for 45 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos.
