Atlantic City, NJ— Atlantic City casino workers and members of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) issued the following statement as casino executives are pushing New Jersey lawmakers to renew their online gaming licenses:
“For almost two years, casino executives have been opposed to smokefree air in casinos with inaccurate claims that clean air will hurt their bottom line and keep gamblers from walking through our doors. Now they’re begging state lawmakers to extend their online gaming licenses which many experts believe is the real reason why fewer people are coming into the casinos.
“The casinos cannot have it both ways. They cannot blame clean air policies on lower in-person revenue while pushing for policies that actually have a direct correlation with in-person attendance. Their insistence on internet gaming proves that their arguments against smokefree air policies are invalid. We’re calling on lawmakers to also vote on legislation to end indoor smoking as they extend another source of revenue for Atlantic City casinos. If lawmakers can make time to address technicalities for online gaming, they also have time to extend smokefree protections to casino workers and close the casino smoking loophole.”
BACKGROUND
An overwhelming 70 percent of the New Jersey legislature has cosponsored S264 and A2151, legislation to close the casino smoking loophole and protect the health of casino workers. The bills have earned 83 cosponsors in total, 26 in the Senate and 57 in the Assembly.
During a hearing in March held by the Assembly Health Committee and the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee, members of CEASE (Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects) testified before lawmakers to share their experience working in smoke for hours at a time and dealing with the extreme health consequences.
In February, casino workers and other supporters including the United Auto Workers, and representatives from several public health organizations testified before the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee.
Majorities of each of the Senate and Assembly committees cosponsor the bill.
The legislation also has broad support from a range of organizations including the National Council on Problem Gambling, UFCW Local 152, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has repeatedly said he will sign the legislation when it reaches his desk, saying “At the end of the day, we will still get good business. Atlantic City is an American gem. We’ve got the ocean and the other competitors don’t. And this is the right thing for our respective health.”
