The bill to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos is dead again for the second time in as many months.

It failed to get enough votes despite having dozens of legislative sponsors and strong support from casino workers who say the secondhand smoke they deal with on the job is a health hazard.

The bill would have closed a loophole in the state's anti-smoking law, allowing guests to light up on about 20% of a casino floor.

But the industry lobbied hard against the bill, saying they lose customers at a time when casinos are still rebounding from the pandemic.

Senator Vince Polistina, who represents Atlantic City, said he's now working on a compromise bill that would phase out smoking on casino floors by 2025, but also create separate smoking rooms.

Employees would have to agree to work in the union.

UAW, which represents thousands of casino workers, has called those rooms, quote, preposterous.

But we just, you know, came to the conclusion that the full ban probably doesn't have the support.

So I think a lot of people want to see something done.

And so I do think, you know, once we get back there next year, that will build the support necessary, because I think a lot of people are of the mindset that we have to stop smoking on the casino floor and stop employees who don't want to be impacted by second hand smoke from being impacted.

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More details are available at Newark Holiday Festival.

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