Casino Smoking Opponents in Atlantic City Say NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Can Cement Legacy
Posted on: August 11, 2025, 02:32h.
Last updated on: August 11, 2025, 02:38h.
- Some casino workers in Atlantic City want clean indoor air
- They’re calling on outgoing NJ Gov. Phil Murphy to pressure the Legislature to pass an amendment to New Jersey’s clean indoor air law that allows certain tobacco smoking on casino floors
Casino smoking opponents in Atlantic City are urging New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) to use his final months in office to champion legislation that would end indoor tobacco use on the nine gaming floors.
Murphy has long declared that he would sign a bill to end Atlantic City casino smoking should such legislation arrive on his desk. But his critics say he’s been unwilling to lead the fight, caving to the casino industry and special interests instead.
With Murphy term-limited and his days nearing their sunset, CEASE, or Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, is pleading with the former Goldman Sachs executive to take matters into his own hands. The grassroots organization says smoke-free policies are good — not bad — for casinos, and more importantly, they protect both workers and guests.
Governor Murphy can and should push for bills that he and his administration have committed to prioritizing — like 100% smoke-free air in casinos. Casino workers have been fighting for the last five years to close the loophole in New Jersey’s Clean Indoor Act and extend smokefree protections to casino workers, and now, Governor Murphy only has a few months left to show them his support,” Pete Naccarelli, a longtime Borgata table game dealer and a CEASE co-founder, said in remarks to Casino.org.
Murphy’s term ends on Jan. 20, 2026, when his successor will be sworn in.
Atlantic City Casino Smoking
New Jersey’s 2006 indoor smoking law provides a carveout for casinos, allowing them to designate up to 25% of their gaming space for cigarettes and cigars.
The statute doesn’t mandate that casinos keep smoking sections in cordoned areas with separate ventilation systems. As such, secondhand smoke lingers across all nine casinos down the New Jersey shore.
A study released in April by Normington Petts, a polling and strategy firm based in Washington, DC, reported that 83% of voters in Southern New Jersey support making the Atlantic City casinos smoke-free. Almost 60% said they “strongly” favor eliminating secondhand smoke from the resorts. The casino industry, however, maintains that a smoking ban would hurt in-person revenue. That could prove fatal for a resort or two, as casino licenses are soon to be issued for New York City.
CEASE members refute the industry’s claims, but regardless, say the health of workers and patrons should hold more weight than casino companies’ bottom lines.
Polls have shown that there is overwhelming support for smoke-free casinos. Governor Murphy has the opportunity in his final months in office to prove himself a champion of his constituents’ health by pursuing clean air. This is a chance for Governor Murphy to decide what his legacy will be for years to come,” Naccarelli continued.
“Will his administration be one that supported New Jersey workers?” the Borgata dealer asked.
2025 Gubernatorial Odds
The 2025 race to succeed Murphy is between Democrat Miki Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
Sherrill is currently a New Jersey congressperson representing the Garden State’s 11th district (Morris County). Ciattarelli is a former state representative who lost the 2021 gubernatorial election to Murphy by 3%.
Bettors on prediction sites think Sherrill is the heavy favorite. Neither Sherrill nor Ciattarelli has commented on whether they support ending Atlantic City casino smoking.
Last Comments ( 3 )
Just make it VAPES only. This way smokers can still get their smoking form of nicotine and non smokers aren't bothered as bad.
SMOKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!!!!!!
The percentage of people who smoke has been trending downward for many years. Both Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and Encore Boston Harbor have non-smoking casino floors and the inability to smoke doesn't seem to have any measurable impact of the number of people that visit them. I spent a few days in AC in June. Even with smoking still permitted on the casino floor, I honestly don't remember seeing anyone smoking. I'm sure they were there but they weren't obvious. Same with Las Vegas - very few smokers. With so many general restrictions on where people can smoke, perhaps smokers are now so accustomed to designated (or exterior) smoking areas that they're either exiting the casino to smoke (even though that's not mandated in AC), or having a smoke before they enter the casino and simply resisting the urge until their gaming session is done. We're now in a period in which carveouts (such as DEI initiatives) are being eliminated. So there's a bit of hypocrisy in retaining carveouts for a dwindling number of smokers. I hope CEASE is successful and Gov. Murphy grows a spine and eliminates the loophole in the 2006 law.