Report NJ Casinos Depend on to Scare Legislators Disproven By Its Personal Authors
Atlantic Metropolis, NJ— For years, casinos in New Jersey have clung to a deceptive and biased report from Spectrum Gaming as proof that prohibiting smoking would severely damage income. Now, the authors of that research are admitting that eliminating smoking could not have the detrimental affect they as soon as claimed. This shift comes after a long time of fear-mongering to persuade lawmakers to protect the smoking exemption in Atlantic Metropolis casinos.
“The On line casino Affiliation of New Jersey has clung to an outdated narrative to guard a smoking loophole that harms on line casino employees and patrons. Now, the authors of the Spectrum report have conceded what we’ve identified all alongside: smokefree insurance policies don’t damage on line casino enterprise — the truth is, they may also help it,” stated Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Individuals for Nonsmokers’ Rights. “It’s time for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Kansas, Nevada and others to catch as much as this actuality and be part of the rising variety of states creating more healthy, extra aggressive on line casino environments.”
In a current Spectrum e-newsletter, the authors acknowledged that limiting smoking could not truly hurt on line casino income. Spectrum particularly factors to Illinois, the place smokefree casinos are thriving and should even be attracting prospects from Indiana, the place smoking is permitted in casinos:
Spectrum believes that one benefit Indiana casinos loved has pale over time: Smoking is prohibited in Illinois casinos. The proportion of Illinoisans who smoke declined from 18.6% in 2009 to 10.6% in 2023, in response to the American Lung Affiliation. Clearly, the Illinois smoking ban handicap isn’t as nice because it as soon as was (and may profit from Hoosiers preferring a smokefree on line casino).
—current Spectrum e-newsletter
This revelation aligns with current unbiased analysis, together with research by C3 Gaming, exhibiting that smokefree casinos not solely carry out in addition to their smoking-permitted counterparts, however typically outperform them. The On line casino Affiliation of New Jersey can not depend on outdated, deceptive claims to defend the smoking loophole. As shopper preferences shift and the market evolves, it’s time for New Jersey — and different states like Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Kansas, and Nevada — to behave. Closing the smoking loophole in Atlantic Metropolis casinos will create a more healthy, extra aggressive atmosphere for each employees and prospects.
Background
Polling has constantly discovered robust, bipartisan assist for ending smoking in casinos — and that making such a change would entice extra guests to them. A brand new ballot of seemingly 2025 South Jersey voters finds overwhelming assist—83%—for bipartisan laws to lastly shut the on line casino smoking loophole in state regulation. 79% say they’d be extra prone to go to a on line casino if it had been 100% smokefree indoors; that quantity jumps to 81% amongst present casino-goers.
An earlier December 2023 ballot of Philadelphia space adults dwelling in Pennsylvania and New Jersey discovered that just about three-in-four adults (74%) say they’re extra prone to go to a completely smokefree on line casino. An American Most cancers Society Most cancers Motion Community (ACS CAN) survey from November 2021 discovered overwhelming assist for smoke-free casinos in New Jersey, with voters backing closing the on line casino smoking loophole by a 2-1 margin. A Nevada ballot final 12 months confirmed that even within the on line casino business epicenter, almost 60% of Nevada voters assist ending smoking in casinos.
Parx On line casino, simply north of Philadelphia, is the closest smokefree choice for individuals who favor a smokefree indoor atmosphere, and the on line casino continues to thrive since voluntarily ending indoor smoking almost 5 years in the past. The corporate has saved on medical insurance prices for workers and different bills, whereas seeing worker satisfaction improve and sick days lower.
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Individuals for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for almost 50 years, since 1976, to guard everybody’s proper to breathe unhazardous air in workplaces and public locations, from places of work and airplanes to eating places, bars, and casinos. ANR has repeatedly shined a lightweight on the tobacco business’s interference with sound and life-saving public well being measures and efficiently protected 61% of the inhabitants with native or statewide smokefree office, restaurant, and bar legal guidelines. ANR goals to shut gaps in smokefree protections for employees in all workplaces, together with bars, music venues, casinos, and resorts. For extra data, please go to and https://smokefreecasinos.org
See what on line casino employees say about working in secondhand smoke: the Actual Deal
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