Gaming social influencer Brian Christopher went to New Jersey Monday, but not to film himself playing slots at one of Atlantic City’s casinos.
Instead, Christopher appeared before the New Jersey Senate’s Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee to voice his support for smoke-free casinos. In January 2023, Christopher stated he would no longer visit casinos and gaming spaces that weren’t smoke free.
“Every other workforce (in New Jersey) has enjoyed a smoke-free working environment for the past 17 years, aside from casinos, and it is time to close the loophole,” Christopher wrote in a statement.
Christopher’s BC Slots social-media sites, including YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, have more than 1.3 million subscribers and attract more than 5 million unique page views per month. His promotional deals include dedicated spaces on the gaming floor of the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas and Carnival Cruise Lines.
Christopher is also an official advocate for the American Nonsmokers’ Rights.
His appearance Monday was in conjunction with a protest organized by Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) at the New Jersey State House in Trenton. The Senate hearing is the first committee to consider closing the smoking loophole granted to casinos.
In prepared testimony released to the media before the hearing, Christopher stated that he had spoken to employees at casinos that went smoke free during the pandemic who vowed not to return if smoking was re-instituted.
“If casinos truly do care about their patrons’ health, as they reminded us daily in the heat of the pandemic when they were compelled to implement measures to keep us safe, then there should be no room for smoke indoors,” Christopher wrote. “And if casinos truly do want to attract the next generation of players and workers, then the time is now, when only 13% of the population smokes.”
Christopher noted that he has previously partnered with various Atlantic City properties, but will not return if smoking is permitted on gaming floors. He made the decision to boycott casinos that allow smoking because of “weekly ailments and coughs” suffered by his staff and himself.
Christopher’s testimony was scheduled to include the results of a public survey conducted by BC Slots that found 94% of frequent gamblers prefer smoke-free casinos, including 88% of those who smoke.
