American Lung Association Calls on New Jersey to Enact Casino Smoking Ban

The American Lung Association (ALA) released its 2025 State of Tobacco Control report on Wednesday, providing grades and recommendations for each state as well as the federal government in terms of its smoking policies. That included New Jersey, where the ALA urged the state government to end exceptions to its laws that allow smoking to take place on Atlantic City’s casino floors.

When it comes to New Jersey, the state received its best grade from the ALA in the category of Smokefree Air, where it received a B.

ALA: Closing Casino Loophole Would ‘Make New Jersey Smokefree’

However, the ALA also pointed to one area where it felt there was clear room for improvement.

“Finally make New Jersey smokefree by closing the loophole which continues to allow smoking and e-cigarette use in New Jersey’s casinos,” the ALA said to begin its list of actions it called upon New Jersey officials to take.

New Jersey also received a C in “Access to Cessation Services,” as well as a D in its approach to “Flavored Tobacco Products.” The ALA gave the state an F in the final two categories: Tobacco Taxes, as well asl Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding.

The ALA touched on all these issues, including that of smoking in casinos, in a press release that accompanied the report.

“Here in New Jersey, we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists working to prevent smoke-free casinos from becoming a reality,” Michael Seilback, the ALA’s assistant vice president for nationwide advocacy said in the release. “The tobacco industry is also introducing new products that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly flavors and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers.”

New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act of 2006 prohibits all smoking at workplaces and other public spaces throughout the state. However, the law includes an exemption for casinos, where indoor smoking remains allowed to this day.

CEASE Continues Campaign to Ban Smoking in Atlantic City Casinos

The ALA report was released on the one-year anniversary of a bill that would ban smoking in casinos, known as S1493, being released for a full floor vote in the New Jersey Senate. But that vote was never scheduled. 

Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects (CEASE), a group made up of casino employees who have pushed for the smoking exemption to be closed, issued a press release marking the anniversary.

“It’s been a year since the senate health committee voted to protect us from secondhand smoke, and yet we’re still waiting for action from senate leadership,” CEASE co-founder Pete Naccarelli said in a statement. “How many more workers have to get sick despite never smoking a day in their lives before lawmakers in Trenton will make good on their promises? The votes are here, the support is here, and it’s time for our legislators to pass S1493 now.”

 In September, a New Jersey judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by casino workers who were attempting to end the casino smoking exemption. Since then, CEASE and other advocates for smokefree casinos have turned their attention to influencing legislators in the state to change the law instead. 

Opposing these efforts are casino operators – along with some workers – who say that a smoking ban would significantly reduce casino revenues and threaten jobs. CEASE and others have countered by pointing to studies that have shown little to no negative impact to casinos that have implemented smoking bans. 

(Image: Wayne Parry / AP)