Atlantic City Tells Smokers To Butt Out

City Council Votes To Ban Smoking From Floors Of Casinos

(AP)  Gamblers on the floors of Atlantic City casinos will soon have to give up at least one vice: smoking.

Ending a battle that lasted more than a year, the City Council voted 9-0 Wednesday to end the last major loophole to a tough statewide ban on smoking in public buildings that had conspicuously exempted gambling halls.

But patrons still will be able to light up in unstaffed smoking lounges away from the table games and slot machines if the 11 individual casinos choose to build them. The ban takes effect Oct. 15.

Casino workers - many wearing T-shirts with the slogan "Nobody deserves to work in an ashtray" - burst into applause when the votes were counted and chanted, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"The employees of Atlantic City's casinos have hit a jackpot of their own tonight," said Dr. Arnold M. Baskies, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society in New Jersey and New York. "Hardworking casino employees have been keeping Atlantic City's multibillion-dollar casino industry on a roll but have been gambling with their lives for far too long."

Marybeth Litchholt, a dealer for 21 years at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, said it's about time that casino workers' health is as valued as those of other workers in New Jersey.

"Because of cigarette smoke, I have sinus problems," she said. "There are times when I'm working in the smoking section when I'm short of breath. You can just feel it in your lungs. My clothes stink."

More than two dozen states nationwide regulate smoking inside casinos, eight ban smoking altogether inside the gambling halls, and two others will impose a total ban starting in 2009, according to Karen Blumenfeld, policy director of the New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution.

In January 2007, Atlantic City tried to pass its own law banning smoking in the casinos but backed down under withering pressure from the casino industry, which claimed the measure could cut revenue by 20 percent and mean the loss of as many as 3,400 jobs. The City Council then enacted a compromise law restricting smoking to no more than 25 percent of the casino floor.

But that hasn't worked. The smoking areas are still not walled off and separated from nonsmoking areas, as last year's law had called for, and smoke still wafts throughout the casino floor. Smokers still feel persecuted, and casinos still fret about losing business in an already bad economic climate, which is being worsened by the growing success of slots parlors in nearby Pennsylvania and New York.

Kim Hoverman, a smoker from Stone Creek in Cumberland County, said she plans to take her business elsewhere.

"I don't think there should be separate areas," she said as she played a slot machine and puffed on a cigarette at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. "I won't come here at all; I live closer to Philadelphia, anyway. And I hate smoking outside."

Shortly before the ban was approved, smoker Patricia Mitchell of Washington, D.C., seemed resigned to it.

"It's for my own benefit," she said between pulls on a cigarette and pokes at a slot machine at the Taj Mahal. "I don't object to it because I need to cut down. And I need to get away from these machines."

A continent and half an ocean away from the lights of Atlantic City, a Hawaii county banned smoking at beach parks and other outdoor recreational areas.

The council of Hawaii County - which covers the Big Island - voted 7-2 late Tuesday to override Mayor Harry Kim's veto of the ban, despite last-minute pleas from tourism leaders.

Backers were inspired by students who collected more than 2,000 cigarette butts from a beach as a science project and raised concerns about the litter's effects on marine life.

The regulation went into effect immediately. Violators may be issued a $100 citation.

Kim had called an outright ban impractical and unfair and urged the council to consider designating outdoor areas where smoking is allowed.

Hilo Councilman J Yoshimoto, who introduced the bill, said he was disappointed by Kim's veto.

"I cannot relate to this addiction or so-called addiction. This bill helps everyone. Smokers will smoke less and we're setting an example for the kids," Yoshimoto said. "This is looking out for the greater good."

[grammawhamma]

Yes, yes, we all know that smoking is bad for us. Non smokers have now become drama queens screaming about the danger of exposure to second hand smoke...even when well ventilated smoking sections are totally seperated from them. I would like someone to prove to me that second hand cigarette smoke is more toxic than automobile exhaust. It isn''t and we all know it. Yet we will never see cars banned.

I know all the arguements: Smokers will raise health costs (so can the obese). You can''t compare a smoker to a drinker because a drinker''s alcohol consumption doesn''t directly affect my health (it sure does when that drunk driver plows into you head on). Smoke gives me an asthma attack (perfumes etc also cause asthma attacks). Need I go on?

Smoking is still a legal activity and most smokers are polite and willing to bend to the wishes of non smokers. Lately I can''t say the same about non smokers.

[Gary Kempf]

Smoking is still a legal activity and most smokers are polite and willing to bend to the wishes of non smokers. Lately I can''''t say the same about non smokers.


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Posted by GrammaWhamma

I agree, I no longer smoke, my choice. A majority of non smokers feel their rights takes priority over all others.

[sleepyric]

Has anyone been to a smoking lounge in the Atlanta airport???? Can you see in the fog???? *L*....It''s the most disgusting place on the planet. I think the casinos will make luxurious smoking lounges for the customers...this is no big dealy-O.

[onceagirl]

If smoking (I''m not a smoker) is so bad, why the hell doesn''t the government just ban the poison...seems simple enough ...except for the fact that they make millions of dollars on the taxes!

[excoachken]

The non-smoker''s right to breath DOES have "a priority over," your (smoker''s) right to suicide. What''s next, suicidal gun owners complaining that bystanders should not worry if they are standing beside them when they blow there own brains out. It is all about the collateral damage, direct from the effects of inhaling sidestream smoke and indirect from the high costs of health care that we all share, resulting from this addiction.

I applause their decision. It comes a generation too late.

[cnjcc]

"For the greater good". If a railroad car was out of control and heading for a large group where it would surely kill many of them and you had a chance to switch the track to one where it would kill only one person, would you do it? Suppose you''re a doctor and a local reporter comes in to internew you and you find out that her organs could save the lives of 5 otherwise terminal patients, would you do it?

[texanforlogi]

Banning smoking outdoors? Too much. Fine the cr*p out of them for littering, absolutely!

[rushman71]

Too many people fretting about second hand BS!!! Guess what? If not today, or tommorow, or sometime in the future, your going to die!!! Period!!! Getting all healthy conscious about what you breath, but ignoring the fact that you could possibly die at any moment of the day/night by any other occurance!!! I am sick and tired of this health nazi BS!!!

[simpsonman19]

I think it''s about time, I mean smoking is banned in restaurants and bars (where I live anyway) so why is a casino any different? The public gathers there for recreation and everyone wants to be comfortable so why should the non smokers have to breathe in the smoke? I know some people question the danger os 2nd hand smoke, but regardless of how unhealthy it is it''s still very uncomfortable to breathe in. What''s so hard about gambling for a few hours then going outside for a smoke and then resuming where you left off? Sounds like the same thing that happens at work to me.

[jon2012-2009]

I agree, I no longer smoke, my choice. A majority of non smokers feel their rights takes priority over all others.
Posted by navpro at 07:00 AM : Apr 24, 2008

What''s so hard to understand? You have a right to put poison into your lungs but not into someone else''s. Let that be their decision.

[actornaught]

...second hand BS!!!...
Posted by rushman71 at 11:20 AM : Apr 24, 2008

Your nick says it all, you''re knee-jerk parrot of a 7-time loser, drug-addict, anti-american, hate-radio comedian.

When rush is talking, he''s either lying, or setting you losers up for a big lie.

[mollydtt]

Smokers are addicted, so I''m sure the addiction to gambling is just one more personality trait. Smokers make non-smokers breathe their cigarettes, they toss cigarettes out of cars onto grassy medians and start fires, they fall asleep while smoking and cause housefires. Just what is the real merit of smoking? Oh yeah, the government gets taxes, but then doesn''t the government subsidize tobacco farmers?

[rushman71]

actornaught: Uh, you are mistaken. That is not what my name represents, idiot!!! Go choke your chily some where else, sphincterboy!!!

[actornaught]

That is not what my name represents, idiot!!!... sphincterboy!!!
Posted by rushman71 at 01:16 PM : Apr 24, 2008

LMAO! You''re going thru withdrawal, aren''t you... I DONT CARE if your nick is accidental or not, your script is pure rush lies.

[drivelphobe]

rushmn....

Poor whining baby. Look, everyone has a right to breathe fresh air. Smokers can smoke their guts out for all I care, but not when it pollutes the air of others. The filthy stench is so offensive, it almost makes people vomit.

Finally, decent people can visit and enjoy the casinos without having to move from their games or subject themselves to the foul air and ashes these idiots flick wherever they wish. Let''s hope Las Vegas and Laughlin follow suit or perhaps get sued by their employees for imposed subjection to carcinogens.

How would you like it if someone sat next to you at the roulette table, covered in cat feces? That''s about what it''s like to sit next to a smoker.

[questionnews]

Is there anything wrong with a casino that is specifically for smokers. If there was a casino that in big bold letters on all entrances said "This casino allows smokers" would non smokers still whine. Say 95% of all the casinos are non smoking, why can''t they allow 5% to be for smokers. Or are non smokers so militant in their views and want to be such control freaks that nobody can have a place to enjoy?

[navyjimfl]

smokers think the world is their ashtray.....I see these morons everyday throwing cig butts out of their car windows.....

[drivelphobe]

Questionnews.....

This is a workable idea, non-smoking casinos for the healthy and smoking casinos for the smokers. Great!

Why do you designate non-smokers as militant control freaks simply because they don''t want to have to breathe carcinogenic air against their will?

You appear to be one of the hostile, insecure smokers intent on pushing your way on everyone else. You smokers just don''t get it. All that normal, healthy people want is fresh, untainted air that doesn''t smell badly and make one feel like vomiting. You can smoke until you have tumors the size of grapefruit for all I care, just don''t make the rest of us breathe cancer dust.

[grammawhamma]

Questionnews: I think it is a good idea to have smoking casinos and non smoking csinos clearly labeled so the non smokers wouldn''t have to risk entering a smoke filled place. It is called compromise. The non smokers won''t compromise however. They are like little kids that cry and scream for a toy only because the other kid has it...once they get that toy they no longer want it.

Where I live they are trying to ban smoking in all taverns. The non smokers argued that tavern business will increase because the majority (69%) of the people are non smokers and will flock to the smoke free bars. Guess what it didn''t happen. The towns that banned smoking in bars are losing business and the taverns outside of the smoke free towns have increased business.

[element51]

Smoking is a vile disgusting habit. I know this because I smoke. Yes, you non-smokers are right. I am stupid and have no respect for myself. I am weak willed and totally unable to control my freakish need for nicotine. That being said, I grew up in the late 50''s and early 60''s. Being human, (at that time) I was subject to the power of advertising and the pull of peer pressure. I wanted to be one of the "in" crowd and cigarette adds were everywhere. So I did the stupidist thing that I have ever done in my whole 63 years. And believe me I''ve done some stupid things. I started smoking. I have tried to quit so many times I have lost track. I''ve put on patches, chewed ****ty tasting gum, sucked on candy, had needles poked in me, been hypnotized...you name it. Nothing has worked. I know it is offensive and I try to not push it on those who don''t smoke but I really must say that the way some of you non-smokers act is really over the top. Finally, if it is so bad it should be put in the class of marajuana and let''s load the prisons and jails up with smokers. Lock em up and don''t let them out till they are smoke free. But by all means keep sending millions to the tobacco growers. I guess their farms won''t grow any other crops.

When I visit a bar/casino place that recently passed a smoking ban, after I order my drink I flash a 20 at the bartender and ask "So, what do you think of the smoking ban?"

If they fought against it, they get one hell of a tip.
If the support it I say, "Every form of refuge has it''s price. Yours just cost you 20 bucks. Have a nice night."

I love smoking bans. I can be as vicious and vile as I want to so long as I don''t smoke, and I guarantee you, the *** I can spew from my mouth is far more damaging than any cigarette smoke ever was.

"Those who will sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither."

Thank god we still have Vegas where you''re allowed to actually have fun.

Screw it, Atlantic City is a dump anyway. let the Nons have their little fun. More money for other places that still believe all customers should be catered to.

[me4prezz]

Thank Heavens!!!

My son, husband and I all have severe asthma since birth---nothing to do with our smoking since none of us have ever smoked---but when out in public or even if we want to go to casinos, we can''t because we have an instant asthma attack the minute we walk in from the smoke. Why should the rest of us sacrifice our health for someone elses, rather expensive, addiction?

Instead of telling themselves all the revenue they will lose, how about focusing on the revenue they will earn from the rest of the nonsmokers who will now feel comfortable going to the casino? With a smoking ban in place, I would feel much better about going there for a good time without risking an ambulance trip to the ER!

Good Job Atlantic City!

[grammawhamma]

me4prez: Would you have a problem with smoke free casinos and casinos that allowed smoking if they were in two seperate buildings and well labeled which was which? Just curious.