Half of state senators and 43 of 80 Assembly members have signed on to sponsor bills to end legal smoking in casinos.
“We will keep this issue front-and-center over the summer and work to make sure it’s a top priority when legislators return to Trenton in September,” said Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, in a press release Wednesday. “Especially in light of the new reality that smokefree casinos are performing better than their smoking counterparts, there’s no reason not to act.”
The Casino Association of New Jersey has strongly opposed the bills, saying banning smoking would harm the industry and cost jobs.