Atlantic Metropolis Chamber Member Drops Out After Backing On line casino Smoking
The Better Atlantic Metropolis Chamber of Commerce’s public declaration of its assist for permitting indoor on line casino smoking to proceed has penalties. It already led to 1 member severing ties with the enterprise networking group.
A person smokes whereas taking part in a slot machine on the Ocean On line casino Resort in Atlantic Metropolis on February 10, 2022. New Jersey lawmakers are contemplating ending indoor on line casino smoking within the state’s on line casino seashore city. (Picture: AP)
Atlantic Prevention Assets introduced the cancellation of its commerce membership. The transfer got here simply hours after the Atlantic Metropolis Chamber expressed its opinion that lawmakers shouldn’t finish indoor smoking on gaming flooring. Atlantic Prevention is a nonprofit that works to forestall hurt attributable to substance abuse.
We extremely worth our membership within the Better AC Chamber, however as a public well being company we can not proceed to be members of a corporation putting monetary pursuits above well being,” stated Atlantic Prevention Assets Government Director Bob Zlotnick.
Laws has been launched in each the New Jersey Senate and Meeting searching for to extinguish the indoor smoking loophole. The exemption was afforded beneath the state’s 2006 clear indoor air act.
Whereas neither invoice has acquired ground consideration in both chamber, momentum is constructing behind the laws. As of this week, 13 of New Jersey’s 40 state senators have lent their assist to the anti-smoking payments.
Well being Over Earnings
The On line casino Affiliation of New Jersey (CANJ) argues {that a} full indoor smoking ban would eradicate as many as 2,500 jobs and harm gaming income to the tune of 11%. Whether or not these substantial penalties would truly be handled on line casino smoking outlawed is debatable. However those that say it’s time to finish indoor tobacco use say their claims aren’t in query.
Indoor tobacco smoke presents dire well being considerations for not solely the smoker, however anybody bodily positioned within the enclosed setting. And regardless of casinos persevering with to focus on their efficient air circulation methods, new research have concluded that “thirdhand smoke” — residual nicotine and different chemical compounds left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke — pose potential well being hazards.
The Mayo Clinic explains that thirdhand smoke can’t be eradicated by airing out rooms or utilizing air circulation mechanisms. Confining smoking to sure areas additionally doesn’t forestall thirdhand smoke particles from shifting to supposedly smoke-free areas.
“As a member of the local people, we might stand to be impacted by any loss in native enterprise. However we can not in good conscience put a price ticket on the well being of our households and neighbors,” Zlotnick added in his withdrawal assertion.
Legislative Newest
The momentum definitely appears behind the anti-smoking crowd relating to Atlantic Metropolis casinos. Quite a few lawmakers, each Democrat and Republican, have been expressing their assist for making the 9 casinos go smoke-free. However the payments that will make them accomplish that proceed to linger in Trenton.
Meeting Invoice 2151 continues to reside within the Meeting Well being Committee. It’s sat there since February 7.
The Senate’s smoke-free on line casino effort — Senate Invoice 264 — stays within the Senate Well being, Human Companies, and Senior Residents Committee. The statute has been there since January 11.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) backs banning indoor on line casino smoking. The governor says he’ll signal such a measure ought to it attain his desk.
