A New Jersey Superior Court ruling has allowed smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, marking a setback for casino workers who have been advocating for a smoke-free environment. The group Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) has been arguing that the state's failure to protect casino workers' health reflects a dangerous prioritization of profits over people. However, casino officials argue that preventing smoking in casinos would cost millions in revenue to an industry still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lawsuit was filed by Region 9 of the United Auto Workers, which represents 3,000 workers in the Bally’s, Caesars, and Tropicana casinos, along with CEASE. The groups claimed that Governor Phil Murphy’s 2021 executive order allowing smoking in casinos violates casino employees’ constitutional right to safety. However, the judge ruled that the suit did not establish a basis for relief under the constitutional provision against special laws, nor under the constitution’s right to safety or its guarantee of equal protection under the law (NJ Law Journal).
Despite the ruling, the workers' attorney, Nancy Erika Smith, vowed to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court, emphasizing the health risks of secondhand smoke. Lamont White, a dealer at Borgata and leader of the anti-smoking movement, expressed disappointment but reaffirmed the group's commitment to the cause, stating, "This fight is far from over" (Yogonet).