Atlantic City casinos renew call for smoking cessation
Atlantic City casino employees are calling for clean indoor air in their workplaces and urging state lawmakers in Trenton to take swift action this legislative session. They hope to close the loophole that allows players to smoke cigarettes and cigars.
The New Jersey Legislature convenes for its 2024 session on Tuesday. The legislation is scheduled to last until the end of the year.
A key issue facing the gaming industry in Atlantic City is that the state is expected to consider passing an amendment to close the smoking loophole at indoor casinos. The state's 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act provides an exemption for licensed casinos, allowing venues to designate up to 25 percent of their gaming floors for indoor smoking.
Providing casino employees with a safe workplace free of second-hand smoke is long overdue, according to CEASE, a group that fights the effects of smoking.
We cannot wait any longer," CEASE said in a statement."We must inhale secondhand smoke for hours every day at work. This is unacceptable. "
CEASE claims many of its members face difficult health diagnoses, including lung cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Many workers blame smoky, toxic workplaces for these illnesses.
Urgent Call to Action
CEASE is a grassroots organization that has expanded to other states where casinos continue to smoke, including Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Kansas and Virginia. CEASE recently formed a political action committee to support legislators who support its cause.
PAC formation follows disappointing results from the New Jersey Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and the Elderly last month. The inaction shocked CEASE, which has failed to advance legislation that would prevent casinos from banning smoking. Health Committee Chairman Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex) is also the author of Senate Bill 264, which aims to provide clean indoor air to casinos. He said some Republicans have withdrawn their support for the bill.
Vitale said those Republicans were persuaded by the casino lobby that closing slot machine-only smoking rooms would solve the problem without legislation.Casino officials claim that a total smoking ban would lead to massive layoffs as tobacco-loving gamblers would move their operations to Philadelphia.
Some of these Republicans say they are not in politics to take away people's livelihoods. Some Democrats believe continuing to allow indoor smoking could cost their lives.
Reintroducing Bill
As New Jersey legislators get to work in the new year, Vitale is reintroducing his S264. The legislation for the 2024 session is S1493.
Unlike last year's regulation, the bill will no longer have enough support from co-sponsors to pass it in the Senate if it comes to a floor vote in the House. S1493 currently has the support of 18 state senators out of 40 members.
The decline in support for the legislation angered CASE and prompted it to make changes.
We reject false, so-called compromises that continue to jeopardize our health. The smoking room at Philip Morris is a joke and the idea of ‘voluntary’ shifts will benefit our most vulnerable colleagues,” the CEASE statement continued.
"Ventilation experts have made it clear that no current or future filtration systems will protect us from secondhand smoke - our lungs are the ventilation system. Protecting our health and protecting the economic well-being of Atlantic City casinos is a must," the statement said. Going hand in hand – a healthy, happy workforce will help casinos thrive. "
About three-quarters of gamblers said they would be more likely to go to an Atlantic City casino if there was no smoke, according to CEASE.
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Source: www.casino.org
