United Auto Workers Announces Lawsuit to Overturn Atlantic City Casino Smoking Law

In March, the Casino Employees Against Smoking’s (Harmful) Effects (C.E.A.S.E.) announced that on April 5, they had a massive announcement concerning the bill to ban smoking throughout Atlantic City casinos, and now, we know what they were planning to let the public be aware of. 

Appearing with the United Auto Workers, a union that represents employees of Bally’s, Caesars, and Tropicana casinos near the statehouse in New Jersey, they announced that they have filed a lawsuit to overturn the law. 

Casinos Exempt from Previous Smoking Ban Law

The “clean air” law, which was enacted 18 years ago, bans smoking in almost every indoor facility, but casinos are exempt. 

“Today, we get off our knees and stand up!” shouted Lamont White, a dealer at the Borgata casino and one of the leaders of the employee anti-smoking movement. “We offered them the carrot, and now they get the stick!”

This issue of indoor smoking is also being tackled in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Virginia. 

“If the legislators in Trenton won’t do their jobs, we’re going to take the decision out of their hands and into a courtroom,” said Ray Jensen Jr., assistant director of the local UAW office.

The Associated Press also reached out to Mark Giannanonio, the president of the Casino Association of New Jersey and also of Resorts Casino, who didn’t comment, but the association does oppose a ban as it would give a “competitive disadvantage” to Atlantic City. 

If the Bill Passes, the Governor will Sign

Governor Phil Murphy said he would sign a smoking ban into law if a bill is passed. 

Since COVID-19 in 2020, only three of the nine Atlantic City casinos are winning more money from in-person gamblers while online sports betting and NJ online casinos reign supreme. 

There was an attempt at a compromise earlier this year from Senator John Burzichelli, but the ban was 75% as opposed to a complete one. 

United States Representative Andy Kim, who’s a candidate for the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, came out in support of the workers. 

“If I don’t want people smoking in the United States Capitol where I work, you don’t need people smoking where you work,” he said.