Casino Anti-Smoking Advocates in Atlantic City Put Their Kids in Campaign Videos

CEASE told Casino.org that the anti-smoking videos will air in key legislative districts across New Jersey, including in Assemblyman Bill Moen s (D) District 5. The deputy majority leader is a primary sponsor of Assembly Bill 2143, legislation that would extinguish the indoor smoking loophole given to casino floors under the state s 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act.

Despite co-authoring AB 2143, Moen has stalled the bill in the Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee that he chairs. The bill already has enough Assembly support to clear the chamber by way of more than 40 co-sponsors in the 80-person lower house.

Democratic leaders have, at least temporarily, that a complete smoking ban would lead to thousands of job layoffs. Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who said in the past that he would sign a smoking ban should a bill reach his desk, changed his tune slightly this year by saying that .

The United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents table game dealers at Bally s, Caesars, and Tropicana, is . But Unite Here Local 54, which represents thousands of Atlantic City casino workers in nongaming functions, does not. Unite Here believes a smoking ban could result in at least one, possibly two, casinos closing which would devastate the local economy.

The UAW helped CEASE fund a lawsuit challenging the 2006 indoor smoking carveout for casinos and parimutuel facilities in New Jersey. The litigation claimed that to personal health safety are being violated.

Last week, New Jersey Superior Court . He said the state legislature didn t violate the state s founding framework when it allowed casinos to designate up to 25% of their gaming space for tobacco use.

Bartels reasoned that the Smoke-Free Air Act does not hinder or affect a person s ability to seek work in a smoke-free environment nor does the law restrict casino workers right to pursue safety under the New Jersey Constitution. CEASE is expected to appeal the ruling to the New Jersey Supreme Court.