Powerful New Jersey Lawmaker’s Casino Smoking Comments Draw Fiery Response

Posted on: September 30, 2024, 05:31h. 

Last updated on: October 1, 2024, 09:37h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

The ongoing allowance of casino smoking was brought up on Friday at the Southern New Jersey Development Council’s 42nd Annual Sound Off for South Jersey Legislative Conference at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. A powerful Democratic lawmaker’s comments on the issue garnered a stern response from advocates wanting to close the indoor tobacco use loophole casinos gained through New Jersey’s 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act.

New Jersey Atlantic City casino smoking
New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald has been blamed for stalling legislation that would end casino smoking in Atlantic City. Greenwald doubled down on his belief that a smoking ban would result in lost jobs. (Image: New Jersey Globe)

New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Voorhees) sat on a panel at the conference with several of his Democratic colleagues. An array of topics were discussed, but with the event taking place inside an Atlantic City resort, the casino smoking controversy was raised.

You are seeing the debate. It’s a very hard debate for us,” Greenwald said of casino smoking. “If New Jersey acts independently and eliminates smoking, and we don’t act intelligently in how we do that, 3,500 employees in this city will lose their jobs.”

Greenwald cited employment projections reached by the casino industry that claim a smoking ban would devastate their business operations and benefit casinos in nearby Philadelphia where smoking is allowed on most of the gaming floors.

Comments Light Up Stern Response

Greenwald’s comments seemingly valuing jobs over protecting casino workers from secondhand smoke sparked a quick response from CEASE, or Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects. The grassroots coalition is pressuring state lawmakers to support legislation to require casinos to go smoke-free.

CEASE says campaign finance records reveal that Greenwald has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from Big Tobacco, including Philip Morris. Greenwald has been blamed for stalling legislation that had enough support by way of co-sponsors to end the casinos’ smoking privileges that allow them to designate up to 25% of their gaming floor for tobacco use.

Greenwald has suggested that a compromise be reached, with one possibility being requiring casinos to only allow cigars and cigarettes in fully enclosed areas that have separate ventilation systems. Only willing casino employees would work in the smoking enclosures.

It’s time for the majority leader to stop standing in the way of the bipartisan bill that has broad support that would finally close the casino smoking loophole and actually attract more visitors to Atlantic City who stay away today because of the smoke,” said CEASE co-founder and longtime Borgata dealer Pete Naccarelli.

United Auto Workers Region 9 Director Dan Vicente, whose union represents table game dealers in Atlantic City, says he has repeatedly reached out to Greenwald but hasn’t received a response.

If Majority Leader Greenwald wants to make progress on this issue, he would be reaching out to the workers, health groups, and unions fighting for this. We welcome the opportunity to meet with him directly and hear why he thinks our health should take a backseat to unfounded economic concerns,” said Vicente. 

Another union, Unite Here Local 54, represents more casino workers employed in nongaming roles. Unite Here opposes eliminating casino smoking, with Local 54 Secretary-Treasurer Donna DeCaprio saying last year that such a change “would be a suicide pact.”

Pennsylvania Alliance? 

Greenwald might not be talking to the dealers’ union but says he is in talks with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D). Greenwald wants to coordinate legislation in New Jersey with Pennsylvania for the two gaming states to implement smoking changes simultaneously.

It’s unclear whether Shapiro was receptive to that idea. Casino smoking in New York and Delaware isn’t allowed. Nearby Maryland also bans indoor casino smoking.

Last legislative session, Assembly Bill 2151 — legislation to force Atlantic City casinos to extinguish tobacco smoke — garnered 56 sponsors and co-sponsors in a rare bit of bipartisanship in Trenton. The 56 votes were more than the 40 required to pass the bill in the 80-member chamber.

Greenwald blocked the statute from being put up for a floor vote.