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The New Jersey Public Health Commission voted last week to recommend a formal resolution urging Health Commissioner Raymond E. Washington to take action on the state’s smoking loophole, backing efforts to establish smoke-free Atlantic City casinos.
During the meeting, commissioners described the issue as a “straightforward” public health concern and emphasized the need to protect workers from secondhand smoke exposure while legislative and legal challenges continue.
The draft resolution, expected to be published in the coming weeks, calls on the Department of Health to use its authority to promote smoke-free environments and recognize the health risks facing employees.
Paul Roman, vice chairman of the council, told the Press of Atlantic City:
“There’s been a lot of fights. It’s been in court. And the situation has not been resolved one way or the other.
“And I would like to see the commissioner, through a recommendation of the council, to weigh in on this and maybe get the Legislature to do something about it, or the governor, or both.”
Gov. Mikie Sherrill has also publicly stated that a fix should come from the Legislature.
CEASE worker testimony highlights health concerns
Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) submitted testimony from longtime Atlantic City worker and co-founder Nicole Vitola, who detailed her experiences working in smoking properties while pregnant.
Vitola said workers often feel trapped between protecting their health and maintaining their income and benefits.
“Through the years, we have watched coworkers – people we have worked beside for decades – become seriously ill and, in some cases, die from diseases linked to prolonged smoke exposure.
“Pregnant employees and workers with pre-existing health conditions are forced to choose between protecting their health and keeping their paycheck and health insurance.”
Vitola works as a table games dealer in Atlantic City, where properties remain exempt from New Jersey’s indoor smoking ban under a long-standing loophole.
CEASE formed after smoking returned to Atlantic City casinos in July 2021 following temporary pandemic-era restrictions. The organization says it now represents thousands of dealers and gaming workers advocating for smoke-free workplaces.
Resolution outlines recommendations for Department of Health
According to the draft resolution, the commission recommends the Department of Health acknowledge that secondhand smoke disproportionately impacts moderate-to-low-income casino workers who cannot easily leave their jobs.
The resolution also calls for the department to use New Jersey state data to identify evidence of smoking-related illnesses within the casino workforce.
Additionally, commissioners want the Health Department to promote smoke-free environments while bipartisan legislation and a New Jersey Supreme Court case surrounding the smoking ban remain unresolved.
CEASE is also urging Washington to withdraw his office’s opposition to the group’s lawsuit challenging the casino smoking loophole and support legislation that would permanently ban indoor smoking in Atlantic City casinos.
