Atlantic City Casinos to Welcome Back Smokers Next Month

Posted on: May 20, 2021, 08:40h.

Last updated on: July 6, 2021, 04:25h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Atlantic City casinos have been free of indoor smoke for more than 14 months. But come June, gamblers will be allowed to light back up.

Atlantic City casinos smoking New Jersey — Cigarettes stubbed out in an ashtray above. Casinos in Atlantic City are set to resume allowing indoor smoking next month once New Jersey further lifts COVID-19 health restrictions. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) COVID-19 public health emergency is set to expire next month. Unless the Democratic governor — who is one of only two governors in the country facing reelection in the fall — extends the directive, casino smoking will be permitted to resume.

The coronavirus crisis resulted in more than 1,100 casinos in the US temporarily halting indoor smoking. Anti-smoking advocates have pounced, calling on lawmakers and casino companies to make the tentative ban permanent.

The Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights have repeatedly issued releases highlighting the strong return of gross gaming revenues (GGR) since states began lifting COVID-19 restrictions.

Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland have each posted all-time record monthly gaming revenue highs in 2021. And the American Gaming Association reports that commercial GGR in Q1 of this year totaled more than $11.1 billion — a record three-month period.

“Smoke-free casinos are good for business because guests want clean air,” the advocacy argues.

Smoking Ban Could Impact Business

In New Jersey, the second-most powerful Democrat says now isn’t the time to push a permanent indoor smoking ban on casinos.

It’s an industry that’s struggling quite a bit,” Senate President Steve Sweeney (D) told Bloomberg this week.

“The argument before was that you’re going to chase away a percentage of their business, and nobody’s been able to disburse that thought process,” Sweeney continued.

The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ), which lobbies lawmakers in the Trenton capital on behalf of the nine casinos in Atlantic City, deeply opposes eliminating tobacco smoke on gaming floors.

A smoking ban would have a significant adverse effect on Atlantic City, resulting in a decline in customers, which would cause job loss and ultimately, a decline in tax revenue that benefits the state and local economy, as well as New Jersey seniors and persons with disabilities,” the association said in a statement.

CANJ says gaming revenue numbers can be misleading due to the ongoing surge in iGaming and sports betting. Brick-and-mortar GGR plunged nearly 44 percent last year, while revenue from internet play more than doubled.

Land-based gaming is far more profitable for casinos than online. Atlantic City casinos share their online revenue with their third-party interactive providers, and also make money on physical gamblers through food and beverage, entertainment, and hotel stays.

Future Consideration

Some lawmakers in New Jersey say it’s only a matter of time before cigarettes are permanently extinguished inside Atlantic City casinos.

New Jersey Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), the chairman of the Senate Health Committee, has been advocating for a full smoking ban for years.

It doesn’t make sense that it’s not been banned,” Vitale stated.

Vitale is one of three cosponsors of recently introduced legislation that would close the indoor smoking loophole afforded to casinos in the state’s Smoke-Free Air Act of 2006.

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Kevin Fitz June 2, 2021

The best thing that happen in Poker is the non- smoking rooms, But smokers want to gamble on what kills them first, Smoking or dying POOR, also drinking is there too. the Trifecta
Gary Maione June 2, 2021

I am a smoker and love to gamble and smoke. I really don’t smoke at home,work or in the car. Just grilling and gambling. With that said, I live in Ohio and we have giant outdoor heat and air conditioned patios with hundreds of slots. I am sure if they ban smoking in AC some casinos with the room like Borgata and Harrah’s (not confined on the boardwalk) will benefit from outdoor smoking patios. More than one way to skin a cat.
Marlene May 30, 2021

I am a smoker. Casinos have had smoking sections in certain areas. If you are a non smoker, then stay away from the smoking areas. Non smoking areas have twice the room and floor space than smoking. The ventilation in the Casinos is very good. Cigarettes are still legal. How about Pot smokers? It seems that’s ok and legal in most states are they going to allow Pot smoking?? Most Smokers are gamblers. Get over it.
Connie Townsend May 30, 2021

What really needs to happen across the entire country is put an END ALL smoking bans and allow private property owners(per the constitution) the right to make a choice on whether to allow smoking or not....casino workers that complain....find a new job!!!
Louie K. May 28, 2021

Smoking should never ever be permitted inside casinos. It would be great to turn the tables on a smoker by blowing cigar smoke in their faces the whole time they are playing a game and how they like it. People can't smoke in bars or restaurants anymore. You can't even smoke on beaches which are outside, but it's ok to smoke in dealers faces all day long and no politicians see anything wrong with this. 2021 and these casino owners still don't care about there front line employees. Show some guts and stop this smoking on the casino floors. Let them go outside and smoke. The dealers and everyone else on the casino floor would feel much better. The time is now right to do this.
Terry Johnson May 28, 2021

There is no reason why there cannot be smoking sections. Why do smokers have to be discriminated against? We enjoy having a drink and a cigarette while relaxing and gambling. Non-smokers can go to their sides where smoking is not permitted. As for dealers, those who do not smoke, can deal at non-smoking tables, or perhaps, the casinos can place floor fans to force the smoke away from them. The ones who complained the most were the ones who were smokers at one time. Go to your side, and I will go to my side. We tried this once before with non-smoking, and the casinos lost a lot of money. The way you set things up to stay open during COVID-19, do the same for smoking. After 14 months, I think the casinos can find a way to make it comfortable for all.
john mcdonald May 27, 2021

I have mixed emotions about this. as a smoker ,I totally agree non smokers should not be subjected to smoke,but why cant the casinos have fully enclosed slot rooms for smokers?
Brandon Zinsmeister May 26, 2021

I am a smoker and fully understand the non smokers position. I know its disgusting, dangerous and honestly should be banned and cigarettes not sold anymore. I wish i never started. I think all indoor smoking should be a thing of the past. We learn from our mistakes right guys??
Lady Zee Vee May 25, 2021

Ms. Jennings non-smokers have rights too so don't give us that BS about don't gamble. Smokers can take that crap outside. The slot machines and gaming tables will be there when you get back. We all have the right to breathe clean air It's time to get rid of indoor smoking across the board!!
THERESA JENNINGS May 25, 2021

I think the smoking ban is not good for business... Smoking, gambling and drinking go together and have been together for years. I understand that people dont want to be around smoke.. then dont gamble... but it is a legal product and you are making it impossible for people to smoke anywhere.... I havent gambled at all during this pandemic and if you continue this ban I will only gamble in vegas where I can smoke and I am sure a lot of people feel this way.. They tried getting rid of smoking it lasted 3 weeks and they had to bring it back the casinos lost too much money... (doesnt anybody remember that)... The ocean casino tried to make their casino a non smoking casino and they lost millions... by the time they changed their policy it was too late...
Denise May 23, 2021

Please don’t bring smoking back. Dealers are the only workers in the whole workforce that are unfairly forced to breathe cigarette and cigar smoke day in and day out. They are in our face for 8 hours daily and we can’t avoid it. Drink servers take an order and leave, serve the drinks and leave. We can’t leave or avoid the smoke. They sit for hours and smoke and smoke or just let them burn in your face. Pack after pack after pack. They should have to at least smoke away from the table. People will still have COVID-19 and blow that virus in our faces all day long. Put back the smoking rooms for the guests. Please care about our health and safety. Dealers deserve healthy working conditions just like all of the rest of the work force. “BAN SMOKING IN CASINOS”
Judy Dillon May 23, 2021

I feel if people want to smoke let them go outside. It has been so nice being able to go to the casinos and not have to deal with that disgusting smell and getting a sore throat. Please whoever agrees with me fight this.
Susan May 21, 2021

Ban smoking it's killing people , no where can you smoke indoors public places there are reasons for that ! Please casino dealer lives matter too
connie townsend May 21, 2021

I would NEVER go to a casino that i could not smoke at!!!!!
Ric May 20, 2021

As a smoker and a frequent AC gambler, I am fine with smoking limited to outside the casinos. I look forward to stepping outside to have a smoke when I want one, and the break from playing is welcome as well. Of course, I am sure the casinos would prefer to have me puff and play without interruption as they see it as an opportunity to increase their take.