New Jersey State Senate Approves Total Ban on Smoking for Casinos

New Jersey casinos floors currently are the only indoor public venue in the state where smoking is allowed. Last year a measure was passed statewide that banned smoking indoors except for the gaming floor.

The reason for the exception was the fear the customer base would flee to other jurisdictions where smoking is allowed including several Indian casinos which are not bound by state or federal laws.

Recently the Atlantic City council passed a compromise bill which banned smoking on 75 percent of the gaming floor of each casino within the city. This was done to stem losses of the current player base of smokers. This partial ban is to take effect April 15^th.

The issue has been an ongoing one for several years now as casino workers comprising dealers, supervisors, waitresses and slot personnel oftentimes must stand in front of customers who produce smoke from cigarettes, pipes and cigars. The dangers from ‘secondhand smoke’ have been noted elsewhere.

On Monday a state senate health panel has Okayed a total smoking ban on the casino floors in Atlantic City. The legislation if approved by the Senate and the state Assembly would completely eliminate smoking on the casino floor and follow the ban which exists for all public indoor spaces in the state.

Casino management has been in a quandary as to how to implement the ban. The problems to be considered were how to shut off the smoking section from the smoke free area. An additional problem would be how to choose employees willing to work in the luridly described ‘death chambers’ which would result from all smokers proceeding to play in the reduced 25 percent area with the increased concentration of the particulate matter inherent in the tobacco products smoke.

Some of the properties in town have been considering a total ban. Trump, which has three properties in town, is considering making one of them totally smoke free. If the revised bill eliminating the casino loophole passes than the solutions to the above problems become moot.