A former New Jersey legislator who authored the state's Smoke-Free Air Act is advocating for the removal of the casino smoking exemption clause. Loretta Weinberg, who served as a Democratic lawmaker for three decades, believes it's time to eliminate the loophole that allows smoking in Atlantic City casinos.

Weinberg, who wrote Assembly Bill 3730 (later replaced by Senate Bill 1926) in 2004-2005, explains that the casino exemption was a necessary compromise to pass the legislation. The law, signed in January 2006, prohibits indoor smoking in most public places and workplaces, except for casinos with a minimum of 150 slot machines or 10 table games.

In a recent op-ed for The Star-Ledger, Weinberg expressed her disappointment that casino workers remain exposed to secondhand smoke nearly two decades later. She revealed how the tobacco industry used fear tactics to manipulate unions and hospitality groups into opposing smoking restrictions.

While Unite Here Local 54, representing non-gaming workers, continues to oppose a smoking ban alongside the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ), citing potential job losses, table game dealers' unions support the prohibition.

The 2024 Surgeon General's report, "Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death," confirms how the tobacco industry historically manipulated third-party actors through misinformation to oppose health and safety measures.

New legislation to eliminate the Atlantic City casino smoking loophole is expected to be considered in Trenton next year. Senator Joe Vitale leads the current effort to protect casino workers from secondhand smoke exposure.

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