Some gaming experts predicted that casino workers in Atlantic City would back the indoor casino smoking ban. But, Bob McDevitt, the Atlantic City casino workers union’s President, revealed this week that the union is opposing the smoking ban at casinos. The union represents more than 2,000 Atlantic City casino staff.
McDevitt informed New Jersey (NJ) Spotlight News that local casinos would lose revenue since some players would opt to travel to other states and wager from there. This reduces the number of hotel rooms occupied as players spend more time outside New Jersey. Besides, it will adversely affect bartenders and dealers as they will serve fewer guests.
The casino workers‘ opposition to the smoking ban surprised many people due to cigarette smoke’s health risks. Yet McDevitt’s stand has a fine distinction.
McDevitt Waits for Pennsylvania Casinos to Ban Smoking
The union official claimed that state lawmakers ought to wait to pass the smoking ban until Pennsylvania’s gaming operators ban smoking on their premises. This is a simple thought process, as New Jersey lacks casinos outside Atlantic City.
So, any player who smokes and resides on the New Jersey-Pennsylvania state border is likely to travel to Philadelphia to play different casino games as they smoke. But some people are concerned about the smoking ban’s impact.
Mark Giannantonio, the Casino Association of New Jersey President, says that the ban will be efficient. He told the New York Times a few days ago that a smoking ban study from Spectrum Gaming Group revealed that the ban would make New Jersey casinos lose 11 percent of their revenue.
Part of their revenue loss would be from players who decide to visit Pennsylvania casinos. Also, the operators would lose money when smoking players leave Atlantic City casinos‘ gaming floors to smoke. This would result in an $8.31 per hour loss during such smoke breaks.
The Revenue Loss Due to The Smoking Ban Is Uncertain
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy restricted smoking in all local casinos during the COVID-19 period. But casinos still had an 11 percent revenue growth in Q1 2021 unlike in Q1 2019 despite the ban.
This indicates that local casinos wouldn’t lose all their revenue if the state imposes a permanent smoking ban. Thus, the ban doesn’t guarantee decreased gaming revenue. Mount Airy Casino and Parx Casino in Pennsylvania didn’t lose revenue after banning smoking on their floors, according to a report from PlayPennsylvania.
Does Smoking Affect Casino Workers’ Health?
McDevitt’s efforts to delay the smoking ban might continue risking casino employees’ health. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) discovered in one study that casinos which allow smoking have low indoor air quality and make workers susceptible to cardiovascular diseases after getting exposed for two hours.
It added that the public backs and complies with smoke-free laws. They don’t have a negative impact on employment and sales in the hospitality sector.
Over half of New Jersey, lawmakers signed the smoking ban bill as co-sponsors. The governor recently stated that he would sign it once his office receives it. Thus, it has a high probability of passing this year.
The 2023 legislative session will kick off on January 10 at 2 p.m. and continue until March. The legislature is likely to vote for it in a few weeks.
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