A bitter labor dispute erupted Monday in Atlantic City's contentious casino smoking debate, with union leaders clashing over worker safety and job security in the gambling hub's nine casinos.
Ray Jensen, assistant director of United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9, called for the resignation of Donna DeCaprio, president of Local 54 Unite Here, accusing her of failing to protect casino workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Jensen's union represents dealers at three Atlantic City casinos and is currently involved in litigation to end smoking in gambling establishments.
"She should be ashamed of herself," Jensen told the Associated Press. "She should hand in her union card."
The conflict highlights a deepening rift between labor organizations over New Jersey's casino smoking exemption, which allows smoking on 25 percent of gaming floors despite the state's clean air laws. The exemption affects all nine of Atlantic City's casinos—Bally's, Borgata, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah's, Ocean, Resorts, and Tropicana. While some unions push for a complete smoking ban, citing serious health concerns, Local 54 argues that such restrictions could devastate the industry and cost thousands of jobs.
Newsweek contacted The Casino Association of New Jersey via online form on Monday for comment.
DeCaprio defended her position, pointing to data showing that smoking sections generate between 50 percent and 72 percent of all in-person casino revenue, despite occupying only a quarter of the casino floor. "We are protecting our members against multiple casino closures and job losses," she said. "The UAW is eager to sacrifice the entire casino industry and put 25,000 good jobs with benefits at risk."
The debate challenges decades of casino industry conventional wisdom. A 2022 report by Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming found that casinos implementing smoking prohibitions during the pandemic did not experience significant revenue drops or lose market share to nearby smoking-permitted venues. The independent research revealed that non-smoking properties appeared to outperform their smoking-allowed counterparts.
The report's findings are playing out in real-time at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, which has remained smoke-free since August 2021. Rather than requiring patrons to exit and re-enter through security, the casino adapted by creating an outdoor patio space for smokers, demonstrating how venues can evolve to accommodate both smoking and non-smoking customers.
Casino workers, organized under Casino Employees Against Smoking's Effects (CEASE), have spent four years pushing to end the smoking exemption in New Jersey's clean air law. Workers report increasing cases of cancer, heart disease, and other smoking-related illnesses among staff. CEASE filed an appeal Monday challenging an August court ruling that allowed smoking to continue in the casinos.
The pandemic has already reshaped casino operations, with many venues eliminating daily housekeeping, closing buffets, and ending room service. These changes, once considered essential to casino operations, have been accepted by customers, suggesting that smoking restrictions might follow a similar pattern of adaptation.
Attorney Nancy Erika Smith revealed historical connections between tobacco companies and labor unions, citing documents from the 1993 Philip Morris Companies showing strategic efforts to cultivate union support against smoking restrictions. The tobacco giant specifically targeted HERE, a predecessor to Unite Here, viewing labor unions as crucial allies in preventing smoking bans in the hospitality industry.
The battleground extends beyond Atlantic City. Similar worker-led campaigns have emerged in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Virginia, indicating a broader shift in casino industry practices. While Las Vegas remains largely smoker-friendly, with only Park MGM maintaining a completely smoke-free environment, the Northeast has seen a significant movement toward smoking restrictions.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has positioned himself firmly in the smoke-free camp, pledging to sign a ban if it reaches his desk. However, the Casino Association of New Jersey, backed by Local 54, warns that such a move would significantly reduce tax revenue for state programs benefiting senior citizens and disabled residents.
DeCaprio proposed a compromise, suggesting improved ventilation systems and policies preventing the involuntary assignment of workers to smoking sections. "A balance needs to be reached that will both protect worker health and preserve good jobs," she said.
The C3 Gaming report also challenged another industry assumption, finding that gamblers did not necessarily flock to smoking-allowed casinos when faced with nearby smoking restrictions.
Several smoke-free properties in the Northeast, including Parx Casino in Philadelphia and Empire City in Yonkers, demonstrated stronger slot machine performance than their smoking-allowed counterparts in Atlantic City over the past year.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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