Will Proposed Ban On Cigarettes Inside AC Casinos Go Up In Smoke?
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There will be a lame duck session of the legislature. The governor and all 120 state Senate and Assembly seats are up for grabs. There is a bill to ban smoking in Atlantic City's nine casinos. Senate President Stephen Sweeney has reservations about the proposal. Gov. Phil Murphy has said he will sign the bill if it passes.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network released a poll that showed New Jersey residents favor banning smoking in the casinos. The law that bans smoking is exempting the nine Atlantic City casinos, which were closed during the summer of 2013. Since the ban expired in April 2021, smoking opponents want to make it permanent. A news conference took place to urge passage of the bill during this session of Legislature.
Sweeney proposed a ban on smoking in casinos. Casinos employees are angry and want him to take action. The Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade group that represents the Atlantic City casinos, insists that a permanent ban would harm the industry. State Sen. Shirley Turner agrees. She thinks the policy that allows smoking inside casinos but bans smoking outside the casino doors is inconsistent and unfair to casino workers.
