Smoking ban for Atlantic City casinos continues to gain support

With more senators joining the battle, the push to ban has become bi-partisan.

Atlantic City has inched closer to stubbing it out, throwing away the pack and quitting for good. Indeed, a bill which bans smoking in the resort town’s casinos has gathered support from both sides of the aisle in the New Jersey State Senate.  

Yesterday, yet another Republican Senator, Michael Testa, got behind the bill.  

Even with the new developments, though, it is still unclear if the government’s democratic leadership will go ahead in pressing the legislation. While the bill has been referred to a Senate committee, it is not actually on that committee’s agenda.

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy has signaled that he would sign the bill into law were it to pass in the lower houses.  

Current rules stand that smoking is only allowed on 20% of casino floors.  

The controversial nature of this rule has prompted a movement of sorts among casino workers and health advocates who claim that their right to work in a safe environment is being violated by the presence of second-hand smoke.  

Their line of agitation now notes the bi-partisan nature of the battle. According to the Associated Press, Nicola Vitola, a Borgata dealer and anti-smoking advocate, had this to say on the matter: “We have support from Republicans and Democrats, as well as legislators across New Jersey, because they recognize that it’s wrong to treat up differently than every other worker in our state.” 

The Casino Association of New Jersey – which represents the industry in Atlantic City – has taken a contrary stand: a smoking ban would cost jobs, money and tax revenue.  

There was a similar bill making the rounds last year, but it didn’t even make it to a vote. The actual law would amend the state’s Smoke-Free Air Act. As things now stand, casinos are exempt from the law.  

Passage of the new measure would change that.

Cameron Saunders

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