It’s happening at Atlantic City Hotels and Casinos

Atlantic city seems to be tending to go smoke free. This is one of those tricky issues that noone really knows what the right thing to do is. So, two years ago, the state of New Jersey banned smoking at all public buildings except casinos. Casinos were left out because of the obvious threat to reducing the appeal of Atlantic City to a large segment of tourists. Surveys and studies confirmed the fear that smoking restructions could seriously affect the Atlantic CIty economy. Well, the casinos’ luck might be running out.

USA Today reported today that State officials are set to vote on whether to make smoking illegal at all casinos except at designated smoking areas. Read the full story here.

Now, I am not a smoker myself and this would be favorable to me. However, here’s a really tough choice for the officials. What’s more important, a marginal health risk or the risk of serious economic slowdown?

Several other gaming jurisidictions have banned smoking recently in the last year or two including the Black Hawk mountain casinos near Denver, Colorado. These casinos have reported an estimated 3-4% drop in revenues JUST from this ban alone. That’s several billions in lost revenue. Several millions in lost tax money for the State. Several thousand jobs lost, since layoffs are happening in all casino companies today.

On the other hand, the health risks from smoking are becoming more and more clear and scientifically proven. But is it the state’s business to curb people’s freedom of entertainment? Will this result in actual reduction in the injuries from tobacco or will it actually increase tobacco consumption since people do like to do forbidden things - like in the case of marijuana? Time will tell again, but if you have any thoughts on this issue, please comment and share with us.

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