Workers in Atlantic City are seeking to ban smoking in the city's casinos and have filed an appeal after a lower court judge dismissed their lawsuit. The workers, known as Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, are challenging a Superior Court judge's decision that their claim of a Constitutional right to safety is not well-settled law. They argue that the current indoor smoking law in New Jersey, which allows smoking in casinos but prohibits it in most other workplaces, is discriminatory.
The appeal is requesting 'emergent relief' from the appellate division to swiftly address the issue. Attorney Nancy Erika Smith, representing the workers, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that it is time to stop allowing casinos to expose their employees to harmful effects for the sake of profits.
Currently, smoking is permitted on 25% of the casino floor in Atlantic City, leading to varying levels of secondhand smoke exposure throughout the premises. The workers pushing for a smoking ban argue that smoke-free casinos in other parts of the country operate successfully, contradicting claims from the casinos that a smoking ban would lead to revenue loss and job cuts.
Similar efforts to ban smoking in casinos are underway in other states, including Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Virginia. Despite the workers' advocacy, a bill to end smoking in Atlantic City casinos has faced obstacles in the state Legislature for years, with its prospects for advancement remaining uncertain.
The debate over smoking in Atlantic City's casinos continues to be a contentious issue, with stakeholders on both sides presenting conflicting arguments about the potential impacts of a smoking ban on the industry and its workforce.
