New Jersey Wants to Let Smoking Gamblers Puff While They Play

  • New Jersey seaside resort returns as rare smoke spot in June
  • Calls for cigarette ban freshened by pandemic health findings
New Jersey banned smoking, drinking and dining in casinos when they reopened in July 2020 after more than three months of not operating.Photographer: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg

It took a pandemic to halt smoking inside more than 1,000 U.S. gambling venues. Now that the economy is reopening, tobacco opponents are urging elected officials and casino operators to make the restriction permanent.

In New Jersey, the casino smoking ban -- like indoor masking, capacity restrictions and other statewide emergency rules-- will be lifted next month, so long as hospitalization and vaccination trends continue. Many state officials say they’re not ready to advocate for a smoke-free Atlantic City.