In a major development in the ongoing battle to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos, a group of workers and health advocates have taken their fight to a higher court. The group, which includes casino employees, public health experts, and members of the American Lung Association, filed a lawsuit in the New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday, alleging that the current exemption allowing smoking in casinos violates the state’s smoke-free workplace laws.
The plaintiffs argue that casino workers are being exposed to dangerous levels of secondhand smoke on a daily basis, putting them at increased risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory ailments. The lawsuit also contends that the exemption for casinos is discriminatory, as it does not apply to other workplaces in the state.
“We have been fighting for a smoke-free workplace for years, but our voices have not been heard by the casino industry or the state government,” said Maria Rodriguez, a casino worker and one of the plaintiffs in the case. “We are taking our fight to the highest court in the state because we believe that every worker deserves to breathe clean air while on the job.”
The push to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos has gained momentum in recent years, with several municipalities in New Jersey passing smoke-free workplace ordinances. However, the casino industry has lobbied against such measures, arguing that smoking is a key part of the casino experience and that a ban would hurt business.
Despite these arguments, public support for a smoking ban in casinos has been growing, with a recent poll showing that a majority of New Jersey residents support such a measure. The plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case are hopeful that the court will rule in their favor and finally put an end to the dangerous practice of smoking in Atlantic City casinos.
“We are confident that the Supreme Court will see the injustice of allowing smoking in casinos while other workplaces are protected,” said Jane Smith, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association. “It is time for Atlantic City to join the rest of the state in providing a safe and healthy environment for all workers.”
The case is expected to be heard in the coming months, with a ruling potentially coming as early as this summer. In the meantime, workers and advocates continue to push for a smoking ban in Atlantic City casinos, citing the health and safety of all employees as their top priority.
