A bill that would ban smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos is still being held up by our top [New Jersey] legislative leaders, because they have been convinced by the gambling industry that it would be a wallop to its wallet.

They cling to a misconception that no-smoking casinos can’t remain competitive, despite evidence to the contrary during the pandemic, when smoking was suspended.

They repeat the dim-bulb cant that gamers will flee the state, even though more than 1,000 other casinos in the US have prohibited smoking — including every one in New York, Delaware, and Connecticut.

And they believe the issue needs more debate, despite the fact that 23 state senators and 51 assembly members have signed on as sponsors of a bipartisan bill that prevents our gambling halls from smelling like ashtrays and saves our workers from inhaling poison.