A former New Jersey lawmaker who co-authored the state's Smoke-Free Air Act is advocating for the removal of the casino smoking exemption after nearly two decades.

Loretta Weinberg, who served as Senate majority leader and represented Bergen County until 2022, was the primary sponsor of the 2006 legislation that banned indoor smoking in most public places. However, casinos received an exemption due to political pressure and industry lobbying.

The law currently allows casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games to designate indoor smoking areas. Weinberg argues this loophole endangers casino workers' health and should be eliminated.

In a recent Star-Ledger op-ed, Weinberg revealed that the tobacco industry successfully manipulated unions and hospitality groups to oppose the original smoking ban through fear tactics and misinformation. This opposition continues today, with Unite Here Local 54 and the Casino Association of New Jersey claiming a complete ban would lead to job losses.

The 2024 Surgeon General's report "Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death" confirms how the tobacco industry historically influenced third-party actors to lobby against their own health interests.

While non-gaming worker unions remain opposed to a smoking ban, table game dealers and slot attendants support it. New legislation to eliminate the casino smoking exemption is expected to be considered in Trenton next year.

Weinberg urges immediate action, stating she "never imagined that nearly two decades later, casino workers and patrons would still be subjected to poisonous secondhand smoke." She supports Senator Joe Vitale's ongoing efforts to protect casino workers and calls for swift legislative action to end what she calls a "long-running travesty."

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