NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Sidesteps Atlantic City Casino Smoking Dilemma During Address

Posted on: January 14, 2025, 04:13h. 

Last updated on: January 14, 2025, 04:14h.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) delivered his seventh State of the State Address on Tuesday. Atlantic City, one of the Garden State’s most historic and famed towns, though one that’s been on an economic decline for years, wasn’t mentioned by the governor.

New Jersey Phil Murphy Atlantic City casino smoking
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his 2025 State of the State Address on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Trenton. Murphy did not discuss Atlantic City, including legislative efforts to ban indoor casino smoking. (Image: State of New Jersey)

Many casino workers down the shore had hoped Murphy would address the ongoing allowance of indoor smoking on the gaming floors.

Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, or CEASE, thought Murphy, a self-proclaimed champion of all New Jerseyans, might finally call on the Legislature to send him a bill to end the tobacco use casino loophole. He didn’t.

Murphy instead focused on “securing New Jersey’s reputation as the best state to raise a family” and to deliver “economic security” by “lowering costs.”

To all of us who have the privilege of calling the Garden State home, I say this: I will dedicate every minute we have left to working for you,” the governor declared.

Apparently, that pledge doesn’t include casino workers who seek a clean indoor air workplace. 

Atlantic City Left Out 

Atlantic City’s governances have been under the state’s control since the summer of 2010 when then-Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, pledged to reinvigorate the town’s casino industry which suffered greatly from casinos opening in nearby Pennsylvania. Christie’s takeover also dealt with runaway expenses and poor local leadership.

A decade and a half later, Atlantic City’s economy remains reeling. Though iGaming and mobile sports betting have bridged some of the brick-and-mortar gaming losses, the nine casinos say increased overhead due to inflation has more than offset those online gains.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the unemployment rate in Atlantic City was north of 7% as of November — considerably higher than the 4.6% statewide average. Those who do have jobs have a per capita income of just $24,150, or about half the New Jersey average. Atlantic City’s median household income of only $36K is one-third the statewide rate of $101K.

Despite Atlantic City’s hardships, Murphy didn’t address how the state’s ongoing control of the casino town might reverse its wailing economy.  

Casinos Fight Against Smoking Ban

The nine Atlantic City casinos contend that a change to the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act passed in 2006 that included exemptions for gaming facilities would only further hamper in-person casino visitation. The Casino Association of New Jersey argues that a smoking ban would move some gamblers to casinos in Philadelphia where cigarettes and cigars are also allowed.

Though Murphy has stated that he would sign a bill to extinguish casino smoking, CEASE says he hasn’t used his clout to encourage the Democratic-controlled Legislature to get a statute to his desk. Murphy instead focused on what he believes has been a most successful governorship.

I have your back. I always have, and I always will. The people of New Jersey deserve leaders who fight for them,” Murphy told New Jersey.

“Over the next 12 months, I challenge all of us to live and breathe a simple yet bold mission: To fight to ensure every one of our neighbors is economically secure enough to make their future in the Garden State. To fight for every parent struggling to afford the cost of groceries, gas, housing, and a college education. To fight for every child’s fundamental right to a bright, prosperous future — and every worker’s right to a dignified retirement. And to fight relentlessly to ensure that our laws protect our most vulnerable just as well as they protect our most powerful. Because the vision has always been a stronger and fairer New Jersey — nothing less,” the governor concluded.