Following the removal of a bill aimed at prohibiting smoking in Atlantic City casinos from the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee agenda on Thursday, December 14th, NJ Senator Vince Polistina (R-02), who co-sponsored the bill, announced his intention to propose a new bill that would protect casino workers from being exposed to second-hand smoke. The bill, in its current form, lacked sufficient backing to be approved by the committee. However, it has the potential to be considered in the upcoming legislative session.

“It is disheartening that despite two years of advocating and garnering support from our colleagues, we have not yet obtained the required backing in the Jeetbuzz india legislature to successfully pass a comprehensive smoking ban,” stated Polistina in a press statement.

The casino employee advocacy group C.E.A.S.E. (Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects) is actively campaigning to protect casino workers from the detrimental impacts of second-hand smoke. Conversely, the casino sector holds the belief that prohibiting smoking will adversely impact their revenue and the taxes they contribute to sustain the economy of Atlantic City.

As to the bill’s summary, existing legislation forbids smoking in the majority of indoor public places and workplaces, with specific exemptions. These exemptions include indoor public places and workplaces located within casinos and casino simulcasting facilities that are open to the public for gambling. Senate Bill 264 aimed to remove the exemptions from the smoking ban.

The bill highlights the findings of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which indicate that casino employees face an elevated risk of developing lung and heart diseases due to exposure to secondhand smoke. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reveals that the air within casinos can contain up to 50 times more carcinogenic particles compared to the air found on congested highways during peak traffic hours.

The casinos are certain that they can achieve our objective of completely eradicating the exposure of employees and customers to second-hand smoke by implementing a well-organized strategy and making further financial investments in their establishments within the next few years. Polistina stated that since certain lawmakers have shown understanding and support for their worries around possible job loss and closures, he believes it is necessary to pursue this FieWin approach in order to maintain progress on this subject.

He announced his intention to propose a new compromise legislation that will specifically tackle the issues raised by the casino sector and labor groups, while also ensuring the protection of the city’s casino employees.

According to Polistina, the new bill will involve several significant measures. These include banning smoking at table games, gradually reducing smoking at slot machines by imposing minimum distances between slots and table games over a period of 18 months, implementing a stricter plan for additional capital investment to create designated smoking areas within the same 18-month period, and requiring employees to willingly choose to work in these smoking areas.

If implemented in early 2024, the policy would lead to a complete ban on smoking within the casino premises by the autumn of 2025.

The proposed legislation aims to achieve a harmonious equilibrium between safeguarding the well-being of workers and addressing the apprehensions of a vital industry within our region and state.