The head of the global casino and entertainment corporation Hard Rock recently spoke with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy about the “economic difficulties” of a bill in the state legislature that would prohibit smoking in casinos.
Murphy has stated that he will approve a law prohibiting smoking in the nine Atlantic City casinos if the legislature passes it. His spokesman stated that he still believes this but refused to comment further.
The CEO of Hard Rock International, Jim Allen, told The Associated Press that he and the governor had discussed smoking in recent weeks.
Allen stated, “I don’t believe I was attempting to sway the governor’s opinion.” It was a general discussion on what a smoking ban would mean for the economy and how it would impact things if it were to be passed.
Allen stated, “We conduct business in numerous states where smoking is prohibited.” “In places where smoking has been banned, casinos’ revenue has decreased by more than 10 percent.
Anti-smoking advocates assert that casinos exaggerate the economic benefits of smoking bans and that customers and revenue will return following an adjustment period.
A group of casino owners in Atlantic City has been pressuring politicians to make smoking in casinos illegal for the past two years.
The Casino Association of New Jersey, which represents the casino industry in New Jersey, opposes a smoking ban. In February, it funded research that concluded a smoking ban in Atlantic City’s casinos would result in significant job and financial losses.
In the interim, the casinos’ finances have gradually improved. The casinos in Atlantic City earned more money in the first three months of this year than last year and the period preceding the pandemic.
But only four of the nine casinos achieved more gross operating income in the first quarter of 2019 than they had before the coronavirus outbreak.
In April, gamblers wagered $422 million at New Jersey’s casinos, horse races that offer sports betting, and internet partners for gambling. This represents a 20% increase compared to the previous year’s same month.
And revenue from in-person gamblers exceeded what it was in April 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. This is excellent news for Atlantic City’s brick-and-mortar casino business, whose income has struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels.
However, as has been the case for some years, the two newest casinos, Hard Rock and Ocean, were primarily responsible for the expansion.
The New Jersey statute prohibiting smoking in most public places does not apply to casinos. Local law in Atlantic City restricts smoking to 20 percent or less of the casino floor.
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The Casino Association of New Jersey, which represents the casino industry in New Jersey, opposes a smoking ban. In February, it funded research that concluded a smoking ban in Atlantic City’s casinos would result in significant job and financial losses.
In the interim, the casinos’ finances have gradually improved. The casinos in Atlantic City earned more money in the first three months of this year than last year and the period preceding the pandemic.
But only four of the nine casinos achieved more gross operating income in the first quarter of 2019 than they had before the coronavirus outbreak.
In April, gamblers wagered $422 million at New Jersey’s casinos, horse races that offer sports betting, and internet partners for gambling. This represents a 20% increase compared to the previous year’s same month.
And revenue from in-person gamblers exceeded what it was in April 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. This is excellent news for Atlantic City’s brick-and-mortar casino business, whose income has struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels.
However, as has been the case for some years, the two newest casinos, Hard Rock and Ocean, were primarily responsible for the expansion.
The New Jersey statute prohibiting smoking in most public places does not apply to casinos. Local law in Atlantic City restricts smoking to 20 percent or less of the casino floor.
For months, the state legislature has taken no action on the issue. A spokeswoman for state Senate President Nicholas Scutari declined to comment when asked if or when committee hearings on the measure would occur. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin’s spokesman stated, “We’re working on a plan.”
Last Updated on by Ryan
