Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban - Update

In less than 2 weeks, Atlantic City’s 11 casinos will be required to comply with a new law which restricts smoking to no more than 25 percent of the casino floor.

At least 5 of the casinos (Harrah’s Atlantic City, Bally’s Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Showboat Casino-Hotel, and the Tropicana Casino and Resort) will respond to the ban by creating non-gambling smoking lounges. This will allow patrons to go into the lounge, have a smoke, and then return to gamble in a smoke-free environment. Other casinos have decided to simply wall off part of the casino where smokers play.

The smoking lounges in particular have won praise from anti-smoking groups like the American Cancer Society. Smokers, on the other hand, are less than thrilled by these developments.

"I think I have the same rights as non-smokers," said Suetta Kyer of Mullens, West Virginia. "Why should I have to leave?"

Due to construction time, many of the casinos may not have the smoking lounges ready by the April 15th deadline. Until then, casinos will designate 25 percent of the gambling halls as smoking areas.

The push for a smoking ban in Atlantic City casinos started last April when the state passed one of the most strict laws in the nation regarding smoking in public places. It did, however, exempt casinos from this law, since lawmakers were fearful that it could negatively impact tourism.

After the Atlantic City Council threatened to enact a total smoking ban in casinos last year, a compromise was reached in which 75 percent of the casino floor must be designated as non-smoking. They must also submit plans for building permanently walled-off and ventilated areas to the Department of Community Affairs by September 15th. Once this plan is approved, the casino will have 90 days to begin work and must complete it in a timely fashion.

Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban - Update