Atlantic City casino workers hold signs during a rally in Trenton N.J., Friday, April 5, 2024, after the United Auto Workers and casino workers filed a lawsuit challenging New Jersey's clean indoor air law that exempts casino workers from its protections. – Frustrated at having unsuccessfully agitated for over three years to get lawmakers to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos, workers on Friday tried a new tactic.
At a rally outside the courthouse where the litigation was filed, workers said they are employing new tactics to ban smoking in the casinos after thus far failing to convince legislators to do it. Ray Jensen Jr., assistant director of the local UAW office, said the venue for the fight has shifted. The lawsuit names Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, whose office did not immediately return a message seeking comment, and the state's acting health commissioner. Murphy has said he will sign a smoking ban if the Legislature passes one.
Only three of the nine casinos are winning more from in-person gamblers now than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. Unlike in-person winnings, money won from online gambling or sports betting must be shared with outside parties and is not solely for the casinos to keep.