New Jersey gaming workers suffered a significant legal blow Friday when a state court dismissed a lawsuit seeking to ban smoking on casino floors.
It was Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels who ruled in favor of Atlantic City's nine struggling casinos.
Tobacco-conscious casino employees, concerned about the health risks of secondhand smoke, filed a lawsuit in May seeking a permanent ban on smoking.
When the state banned indoor smoking nearly 20 years ago, it made an exception to allow it on 25 percent of casino floors.
Casino workers first asked state lawmakers to ban smoking four years ago, but filed suit after the bill stalled.
Opponents of the ban say it would lead to casino closures and thousands of job losses.
They also believe that banning smoking in Atlantic City casinos would draw gamblers to casinos in neighboring Pennsylvania.
Casino owners also argue that such a ban would cost the state millions of dollars in tax revenue.
Atlantic City's nine casinos have taken a financial hit since the COVID pandemic began, with the advent of online and app-based gambling making recovery even tougher.
The casino industry has long opposed smoking bans, saying it is working to develop better ventilation systems and enclosed smoking rooms staffed by volunteer employees.
