In the heat of Atlantic City’s casino smoking ban debate, casino officials and state lawmakers have offered a partial solution.
The option to create outdoor gambling spaces that allow smoking has been put on the table. However, the definition of “outdoor area” is still up for discussion.
Pete Naccarelli works as a dealer at the Borgata and leads the Atlantic City movement to ban smoking in its casinos. Naccarelli said making sure workers are not exposed to secondhand smoke is a priority.
“The devil is in the details,” he said. “As long as no worker is exposed to secondhand smoke, a truly outdoor area could be a workable solution.”
Unite Here Local 54 President Bob McDevitt said this idea has been a topic of discussion for months.
He commented: “We’ve been speaking about this idea with the industry and with the state government since before the summer.
“We want to resolve this with a solution that works for everyone, and I believe that’s attainable.”
Casino workers have been urging lawmakers to ban smoking in their workplaces for the past two years. A group of Atlantic City dealers has been advocating for legislators to reinstate the ban.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union recently offered its aid in an ongoing battle between Atlantic City dealers and the state of New Jersey regarding a smoking ban in the city’s casinos.
A temporary smoking ban had been in place due to the pandemic but was lifted in July 2021, and the casinos returned to the status quo of allowing smoking on 20% of the casino floor.
The Casino Association of New Jersey has opposed a statewide casino smoking ban, claiming the prohibition would have a negative impact on business, costing both jobs and revenue. It recently released a report that predicted job loss as an outcome of a smoking ban.
Casino Association President Joe Lupo agreed and stressed the need to protect jobs. He commented: “Additional time is required to devise and implement a solution that will address the concerns of our employees without jeopardizing jobs and benefits to seniors.”
However, New Jersey State Senator Shirley Turner offered pushback and said a smoking ban is “imperative,” adding that outdoor areas offer a solution to the debate.
She said: “There are solutions such as truly outdoor areas for guests who smoke that do not compromise worker health.”
Other states have implemented outdoor facilities that allow smoking, including Nevada, Maryland and Ohio. Outdoor gambling amenities in these states offer guest swim-up gambling tables, partially enclosed spaces with plenty of open-air access and “smoking patios,” with ventilation systems in areas that are separate from the main casino floor.
However, these outdoor gambling options can cost between $10m and $15m to build, a price that might be beyond the budget of Atlantic City’s casinos.
