Joe Lupo, president of the casino association and of Atlantic City's Hard Rock casino, said Atlantic City “faces some very dire issues.” New Jersey's Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, has said he will sign a smoking ban into law if a bill is passed.Īmong other findings, it determined that smokers, who account for 21% of Atlantic City gamblers, are worth more to casinos than non-smokers in that they tend to lose more money and spend more on non-gambling items.

The Casino Association of New Jersey commissioned the report, which did not recommend whether smoking should be banned, an option that is gaining renewed support in the state Legislature. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters. Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. They also said it fails to examine what would happen in subsequent years as patrons get used to a smoking ban, citing the experience of some tribal casinos where it rebounded. The independent gambling research firm Spectrum Gaming Group compiled the report that supports casinos’ longstanding contention that eliminating smoking would hurt their business, deprive New Jersey of tax revenue and put thousands of people out of work.Ī group of casino workers and smoking opponents criticized the report, saying it prioritizes profits over the health of employees and customers.

He added that doing so “could cause a devastating effect to the community and state.”Īmid a renewed push to ban smoking in Atlantic City's casinos, a new report released Wednesday predicts that doing so could cost up to 2,500 casino jobs and nearly 11% of casinos' revenue as they struggle to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Now is not the time to enact a smoking ban,” Joe Lupo, president of the casino association and of Atlantic City's Hard Rock casino, said.

The Casino Association of New Jersey released a report Wednesday from an independent gambling research firm supporting the casinos’ longstanding contention that eliminating smoking would hurt their business, deprive New Jersey of tax revenue and put thousands of people out of work.

A new report predicts that banning smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos could cost 2,500 jobs and nearly 11% of casino revenue.

Casino openings atlantic city