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Atlantic City casino workers are urging New Jersey lawmakers to question Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s nominee for health commissioner about the state’s casino smoking policy during his confirmation hearing Thursday.
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the nomination of Dr. Raynard E. Washington to lead the state Department of Health. Ahead of the hearing, members of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) called on senators to ask Washington whether he supports ending the indoor smoking exemption that still allows smoking in Atlantic City casinos.
Workers say the issue is a critical workplace health concern for thousands of employees exposed to secondhand smoke on gaming floors.
Workers want answers on secondhand smoke
Lamont White, an Atlantic City table games dealer and co-founder of CEASE, said in statement:
“Dr. Washington has been around public health for a long time. In his last job, he pushed for higher standards of indoor air protection. He made a point to talk about secondhand smoke as being dangerous for working people.
“So now that he wants to be NJ Health commissioner, we want to know: Does he still believe secondhand smoke exposure poses a public health threat? If so, does he believe that allowing secondhand smoke in our state’s casinos poses a threat to the health of casino workers and patrons?”
New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act generally bans indoor smoking in workplaces, but casinos were granted an exemption, allowing smoking in up to 25% of their gaming floors.
The policy has remained a major point of debate since casinos reopened after COVID-19 shutdown in 2021 and indoor smoking returned to Atlantic City gaming floors on July 4 of that year.
Ongoing push to close casino smoking loophole
Casino workers have repeatedly pushed lawmakers to close what they call the “casino smoking loophole,” arguing that the exemption forces dealers and other gaming employees to work in environments with secondhand smoke exposure.
White said workers hope Washington will clarify his stance during the confirmation process:
“We hope Dr. Washington will answer these questions in front of the committee today.
“Based on years of health issues caused by exposure to toxic air, we already know that secondhand smoke is an existential threat to our health and wellbeing as casino workers. We hope that if Dr. Washington is confirmed today, he will take action to stand up for public health and finally close the casino smoking loophole.”
Smoking issue also playing out in court
The issue is also playing out in court.
Washington’s predecessor defended the casino smoking exemption after CEASE and the United Auto Workers filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to end indoor smoking in properties. The groups recently filed a petition to take the case to the New Jersey Supreme Court while an appellate court continues reviewing the matter.
If confirmed, Washington could face a decision on whether the Department of Health will continue defending the state’s position in the ongoing litigation or reconsider its stance on the casino smoking exemption.
CEASE formed after indoor smoking resumed in Atlantic City in 2021 and says it represents thousands of dealers and other gaming workers advocating to eliminate smoking from their workplaces.
