Casinos in Pa. and N.J. have finally banned smoking. Why now?

Does the new prohibited matter reflect the dangers of colonaviruses by smokers? The screening is not over yet, but the background of the new rules is a real safety reason.

By
• Sabrina M's July 25, 2020

On Thursday, July 2, 2020, a clap spiler and dealer divided by partition at Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Are you at the forefront of Coronavirus? Please cooperate with the pandemic report.

A trip is what you can't do at home, even if it's short. You can play at night without children, have a luxurious meal, and some people with alcohol in one hand and one hand with a cigarette with one hand.

Indoor smoking, which is generally prohibited in public places, was allowed in many casinos before the closure of Coronavirus. Half of the Pennsylvania casinos were allowed to smoke on a quarter of the New Jersey casinos on a quarterly floor.

At present, both shines have a betting table and slots operating, and there are various restrictions on indoor meals and alcohol sales, but smoking is prohibited.

Why prohibit smoking at a casino now?

In Pennsylvania, the rules of the State Hygiene did not have a mask removed and smoked. "Therefore, we have decided that in cooperation with the casino side to completely ban smoking on the casino floor, it is important to improve the new problem of virus spread."

What do the casino side think?

"I'm glad that people who are chairman of the New Jersey Casino Association and the regional president of Caesters Entertainment, said frankly, returned here and played again. "I don't care about going out to smoke because they understand the situation."

Mr. Calendar argued that smoking cessation was a business negative, but it was safe for Atlantic City's casinos to be the highest priority.

He says that the casino in New Jersey has been allowed to smoke in the past, so many casinos have a robust air conditioning system and the casinos are working hard.

I don't know when it will be, but the calendar expects smoking to the Atlantic City casino.

"I want to improve our country's situation and return to normal, but until then, we just follow the rules," he said, and the protocol was set to disinfect his hands regularly. He added that the game itself has been disinfected.

Patron is cooperating with this. "There are overwhelmingly many people wearing masks. They are far away," said the calendar.

After all, banning smoking may not only promote wearing masks.

Related Content

Don't go out without a mask. The reporter tried several designs, but learned how to handle masks.

First, a little bit of science

The possibility that it is infected with the new colon virus (also known as the SARS-COV-2) and may develop COVID-19 is the eyes, nose, and mouth of other people's respiratory droplets. When I entered. We all have splashes by breathing, conversation, sneezing and coughing.

Dr. Christina Bucks of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Philip Amphin Ludo of the National Institute of Diabetes, Gastrointestinals and Kidney Disease have not yet been announced, but has been working together to find out if viruses are infected during conversation. 。 They did not investigate smokers directly, but NIDDK's spokeswoman spoke some insights on behalf of researchers.

"It is not physically supported to have a long floating life of potential viral particles binding with smoke particles," explains a spokeswoman. "From a physical point of view, if the liquid or droplet nucleus binds to the smoke aerosol particles, the total amount will increase and the aerial floating life will be reduced accordingly.

To put it simply, adding the weight of the splashes that may have some kind of virus and the weight of the smoke that you exhale will be heavier than normal droplets, and as a result, the falling speed will be faster.

That doesn't mean there is no risk. Researchers did not specially investigate smokers, but said, "If the cough of smokers increases compared to no n-smokers, the splash of cough changes to a splash nucleus floating in the air, and smokers are smokers. COVID-19 positive may include viruses. "

In other words, smokers may not fly so much, but the number of droplets may increase.

It is difficult to get scientific answers. In order for smokers to infect more COVID-19 than non-smokers, it is necessary to know the accurate infection rate of Coronavirus.

Related Content

The more you know about the new Coronavirus, the more the hospital will adapt the treatment protocol. The evolution may have reduced the local mortality rate. < SPAN> Patron is cooperating with this. "There are overwhelmingly many people wearing masks. They are far away," said the calendar.

The gamble

After all, banning smoking may not only promote wearing masks.

Don't go out without a mask. The reporter tried several designs, but learned how to handle masks.

The possibility that it is infected with the new colon virus (also known as the SARS-COV-2) and may develop COVID-19 is the eyes, nose, and mouth of other people's respiratory droplets. When I entered. We all have splashes by breathing, conversation, sneezing and coughing.

Dr. Christina Bucks of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Philip Amphin Ludo of the National Institute of Diabetes, Gastrointestinals and Kidney Disease have not yet been announced, but has been working together to find out if viruses are infected during conversation. 。 They did not investigate smokers directly, but NIDDK's spokeswoman spoke some insights on behalf of researchers.

"It is not physically supported to have a long floating life of potential viral particles binding with smoke particles," explains a spokeswoman. "From a physical point of view, if the liquid or droplet nucleus binds to the smoke aerosol particles, the total amount will increase and the aerial floating life will be reduced accordingly.

To put it simply, adding the weight of the splashes that may have some kind of virus and the weight of the smoke that you exhale will be heavier than normal droplets, and as a result, the falling speed will be faster.

That doesn't mean there is no risk. Researchers did not specially investigate smokers, but said, "If the cough of smokers increases compared to no n-smokers, the splash of cough changes to a splash nucleus floating in the air, and smokers are smokers. COVID-19 positive may include viruses. "

In other words, smokers may not fly so much, but the number of droplets may increase.

It is difficult to get scientific answers. In order for smokers to infect more COVID-19 than non-smokers, it is necessary to know the accurate infection rate of Coronavirus.

The more you know about the new Coronavirus, the more the hospital will adapt the treatment protocol. The evolution may have reduced the local mortality rate. Patron is cooperating with this. "There are overwhelmingly many people wearing masks. They are far away," said the calendar.

After all, banning smoking may not only promote wearing masks.

Atlantic City, NJ

Don't go out without a mask. The reporter tried several designs, but learned how to handle masks.

The possibility that it is infected with the new colon virus (also known as the SARS-COV-2) and may develop COVID-19 is the eyes, nose, and mouth of other people's respiratory droplets. When I entered. We all have splashes by breathing, conversation, sneezing and coughing.

Dr. Christina Bucks of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Philip Amphin Ludo of the National Institute of Diabetes, Gastrointestinals and Kidney Disease have not yet been announced, but has been working together to find out if viruses are infected during conversation. 。 They did not investigate smokers directly, but NIDDK's spokeswoman spoke some insights on behalf of researchers.

"It is not physically supported to have a long floating life of potential viral particles binding with smoke particles," explains a spokeswoman. "From a physical point of view, if the liquid or droplet nucleus binds to the smoke aerosol particles, the total amount of total will increase and the aerial floating life will be reduced accordingly.

To put it simply, adding the weight of the splashes that may have some kind of virus and the weight of the smoke that you exhale will be heavier than normal droplets, and as a result, the falling speed will be faster.

That doesn't mean there is no risk. Researchers did not specially investigate smokers, but said, "If the cough of smokers increases compared to no n-smokers, the splash of cough changes to a splash nucleus floating in the air, and smokers are smokers. COVID-19 positive may include viruses. "

In other words, smokers may not fly so much, but the number of droplets may increase.

It is difficult to get scientific answers. In order for smokers to infect more COVID-19 than non-smokers, it is necessary to know the accurate infection rate of Coronavirus.

The more you know about the new Coronavirus, the more the hospital will adapt the treatment protocol. The evolution may have reduced the local mortality rate.

Are smokers, those who live with smokers, and those who are close to smokers at risk of the virus wherever they are?

"The act of smoking is ... associated with not wearing a mask and exhaling large amounts of smoke," says Dr. Saqib Baig, assistant professor of medicine at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. "Smoking also leads to coughing, which further spreads aerosols and puts people at risk for infection."

Smokers are not only at risk of spreading the coronavirus more by not covering their face and by coughing more, Baig says, but their secondhand smoke also damages the lung health of others.

Current Ordinance Status

Secondhand smoke not only harms the lungs, but also the lung health of others. "Every time a smoker takes a puff, they're not only damaging their lungs, they're also straining their heart, raising their blood pressure, and putting their immune system at a low level."

Even before COVID-19 was announced, there was "well-established evidence" that smokers are more susceptible to viral and bacterial respiratory infections.

Smoking affects both the person smoking and those around them, but when mixed with this new contagious respiratory virus, it can be a very nasty cocktail. And doctors still don't know what long-term effects COVID-19 will have on lung health.

Scientifically, smoking doesn't turn you into a super soaker of coronavirus particles, but the behaviors associated with it are considered high-risk. Vaping is no different, lighting up non-cigarettes that cough, project particles, or neglect to wear a mask.

"Going back to that same principle of not knowing the prevalence of mild asymptomatic infections, if you're one of those people and you're leaving all these big clouds of smoke, someone walking down the street could possibly... inhale them and have (adverse) outcomes," Baig said of vaping.

Quitting smoking is not a simple decision, like, say, washing your hands often, so Baig suggested seeking help from available government and medical sources.

If you just can't quit, "the only thing you can do is go outside and smoke a cigarette. And actually not go outside for a little while."

"It's interesting that this pandemic has highlighted many aspects of our society that need to be improved. We should basically strive for a smoke-free world."

• Get the latest news from WHYY every day!
• The 2006 New Jersey smoke-free law exempted casinos, so in February 2007, Atlantic City City Council passed Ordinance No. 86, which limited smoking to 25% of gaming floors and required separate designated smoking and non-smoking areas.

On April 30, 2008, the Atlantic City Mayor signed the Atlantic City Ordinance, which mandated 100% smoking bans on employee gaming floors effective October 15, 2008. On October 27, 2008, a new Atlantic City ordinance was passed, repealing the gaming floor smoke-free ordinance, which went into effect on November 16, 2008. The smoking ban was in effect for only one month. During that month, casino employees and patrons reported higher levels of gaming activity, and revenues improved during that period. Also, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly supported smoke-free casinos (Fall 2007 Monmouth University Polling Institute poll results).

Past Ordinance History

When it was rescinded, casinos reverted to allowing smoking at 25%. However, an April 25, 2011 investigative report by the Press of Atlantic City revealed that all 11 casinos were not complying with Atlantic City's ordinance that smoking should not exceed 25% of the gaming floor, and that the boundaries between smoking and non-smoking areas were being ignored. The Atlantic City Health Department and the New Jersey Attorney General's Gaming Enforcement Division requested that the Trump Taj Mahal Casino revert to its original 2007 gaming floor plan of allowing smoking at 25%. Employees and patrons routinely complain that current floor plans in Atlantic City casinos exceed the 25% smoking limit. Read the April 27, 2011 editorial in the Atlantic City newspaper.

On August 29, Atlantic Prevention Resources premiered a documentary about how secondhand smoke in Atlantic City casinos negatively impacts employees and patrons. The premiere took place at Revel, Atlantic City's only 100% smoke-free casino resort. WMBC-TV aired the premiere, and an interview with GASP is included in the documentary and in a WNBC-TV article. Read the NBC news article.

Level Casino Resort opened on April 2, 2012 as a gaming resort with 100 % no n-smoking at Atlantic City. Since then, the resort has declared bankruptcy and has changed to smoking as well as Atlantic City's other casinos. Many voices question the wisdom of changing the no n-smoking policy. Reading NJ. com's article on July 10, 2013, "Atlantic City's Casino income, the worst pace in the past 20 years" shows the miserable results of Atlantic City casinos in the first half of 2013.

Click here for the Liber Resort, which withdraws the no n-smoking policy on May 24, 2013 on the weekend of Memorial Day.

Many casino industry officials argue that smoking and gaming have a high correlation, but the two no n-tribal gaming facilities in New York, the Akedact Racecourse and the Yongkers Racecourse are now nationwide. It is the top sales of the racetrack with a slot machine. Read an article on the Philadelphia Inquier on December 16, 2012, quoted by GASP's executive director Karen Bluemenfeldo:

"There is no correlation that the (casino) industry says," says Bluemenfeldo, "the only person who smokes to cigarettes," said Blumenfeld. "In Massachusetts, developers are bidding for no n-smoking cessers, that is, they believe that the no n-smoking casino ü model will be profitable."

While the Casino Reinvestment Development Bureau is working on reducing crimes and revitalizing Atlantic City, the resort in this area must be "for families" by providing a safe environment to children and teenage young people. Is starting to sell. For this, read the article on PresS of Atlantic City in December 2011. In addition, River has been kind to children since it opened 100 % smoking. Read the Press of Atlantic City article on the clean and revitalization of Atlantic City. See our web page for support for no n-smoking gaming.

On March 30, 2011, the Federal Prosecutor's Bureau in New Arc, New Jersey, announced that all 11 casinos of Atlantic City are investigating the inseparable/ compliance of the 2009 Federal Law, "American Disabled Law". did. The survey began in the early spring of 2011 and is currently ongoing. Read a survey by the New Jersey Federal Office.

In 2009, the revision of the US Disabled Persons (ADA) contains "breathing" as a "major living function" protected by ADA. Casino is a public accommodation facility and must be used by people with breathing disabilities or other people with other medical conditions that are not exposed to sideline smoke. Passive smoking is a obstacle to accessing public accommodations, and it is necessary to provide rational consideration as such a place. The court shares that the formulation of a 100 % smoking policy may be a form of reasonable consideration. Read the Las Vegas Review Journal article on May 3, 2011 and the Las Vegas Sun on April 18, 2011.

GASP manages lists in North America, regions, and countr y-b y-country no n-smoking gaming areas.

On October 26, 2008, the parliament has revived the original ordinance that allows smoking on a 25 % gaming floor. The original ordinance#86 (allow 25 % smoking) has been added, and it is required to review whether 25 % smoking is being compliant every year. This review is the responsibility of the Remaking Financial Committee of Congress in accordance with the ordinance.

The Atlantic City Council's Revenue Finance Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") was obliged to review the Ordinance No. 95, which was enacted on October 27, 2008, within one year. The ordinance revived smoking up to 25 % of the game floor.

For reference, the committee received information from stakeholders for deliberations from October to December 2009. We received information about the resurrection of no n-smoking gaming floors, which had been valid for one month from October 15 to November 15, 2008, from the Atlantic County Union. The casino industry has appealed for the economy, despite the fact that other no n-smoking gaming wards have made better profits than Atlantic City. Read a letter that GASP asks for a review sent to the council. Read the overview of the 2008 monthly casino revenue reported by the NJ Casino Management Committee. < SPAN> The 2009 US Disabled Law revision (ADA) contains "breathing" as a "major living function" protected by ADA. Casino is a public accommodation facility and must be used by people with breathing disabilities or other people with other medical conditions that are not exposed to sideline smoke. Passive smoking is a obstacle to accessing public accommodations, and it is necessary to provide rational consideration as such a place. The court shares that the formulation of a 100 % smoking policy may be a form of reasonable consideration. Read the Las Vegas Review Journal article on May 3, 2011 and the Las Vegas Sun on April 18, 2011.

GASP manages lists in North America, regions, and countr y-b y-country no n-smoking gaming areas.

On October 26, 2008, the parliament has revived the original ordinance that allows smoking on a 25 % gaming floor. The original ordinance#86 (allow 25 % smoking) has been added, and it is required to review whether 25 % smoking is being compliant every year. This review is the responsibility of the Remaking Financial Committee of Congress in accordance with the ordinance.

The Atlantic City Council's Revenue Finance Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") was obliged to review the Ordinance No. 95, which was enacted on October 27, 2008, within one year. The ordinance revived smoking up to 25 % of the game floor.

For reference, the committee received information from stakeholders for deliberations from October to December 2009. We received information from the Atlantic County Union to encourage the resurrection of no n-smoking gaming floors, which had been valid for one month from October 15 to November 15, 2008. The casino industry has appealed for the economy, despite the fact that other no n-smoking gaming wards have made better profits than Atlantic City. Read a letter that GASP asks for a review sent to the council. Read the overview of the 2008 monthly casino revenue reported by the NJ Casino Management Committee. In 2009, the revision of the US Disabled Persons (ADA) contains "breathing" as a "major living function" protected by ADA. Casino is a public accommodation facility and must be used by people with breathing disabilities or other people with other medical conditions that are not exposed to sideline smoke. Passive smoking is a obstacle to accessing public accommodations, and it is necessary to provide rational consideration as such a place. The court shares that the formulation of a 100 % smoking policy may be a form of reasonable consideration. Read the Las Vegas Review Journal article on May 3, 2011 and the Las Vegas Sun on April 18, 2011.

GASP manages lists in North America, regions, and countr y-b y-country no n-smoking gaming areas.

On October 26, 2008, the parliament has revived the original ordinance that allows smoking on a 25 % gaming floor. The original ordinance#86 (allow 25 % smoking) was added, and it was required to review whether 25 % of smoking is being compliant every year. This review is the responsibility of the Remaking Financial Committee of Congress in accordance with the ordinance.

The Atlantic City Council's Revenue Finance Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") was obliged to review the Ordinance No. 95, which was enacted on October 27, 2008, within one year. The ordinance revived smoking up to 25 % of the game floor.

For reference, the committee received information from stakeholders for deliberations from October to December 2009. We received information from the Atlantic County Union to encourage the resurrection of no n-smoking gaming floors, which had been valid for one month from October 15 to November 15, 2008. The casino industry has appealed for the economy, despite the fact that other no n-smoking gaming wards have made better profits than Atlantic City. Read a letter that GASP asks for a review sent to the council. Read the overview of the 2008 monthly casino revenue reported by the NJ Casino Management Committee.

On December 9, 2009, the Atlantic City City Council Revenue and Finance Committee (3 members) reported its recommendations to the City Council. The committee recommended maintaining the status quo until 2011, leaving Ordinance 95 in place, and allowing smoking on 25% of the gaming floor. We are not aware of any motion to accept the committee's recommendation from the City Council, nor have the City Council voted to accept the recommendation.

In April 2011, an investigative report by the Atlantic City Press found that all 11 casinos were not complying with Atlantic City's ordinance that smoking should not exceed 25% of the gaming floor, and that the boundaries between smoking and non-smoking areas were being ignored.

In April 2011, the Atlantic City Health Department and the New Jersey Attorney General's Gaming Enforcement Division requested that the Trump Taj Mahal Casino revert to its original 2007 gaming floor plan, which allowed smoking at 25% of the casino. Employees and patrons routinely complained that current Atlantic City casino floor plans exceeded the 25% smoking limit. An editorial in the Atlantic City newspaper dated April 27, 2011, confirmed this.

Atlantic City original Ordinance #86, that took effect on April 15, 2007, did not protect employees and patrons. Here’s why:

• Around April 2011, DGE contacted Atlantic City officials specifically regarding the need for oversight of non-compliance with the local casino smoking ordinance (documented in the Whereas clause of the April 13 proposed resolution, which unanimously failed): DGE stated that each casino must be in compliance to retain its operating license.
• On April 13, 2011, two council members proposed Resolution #261, and all council members, including the two sponsors of the resolution, voted against it. Resolution
• "The City Administration requests the City Council to review Ordinance No. 27 and assign the review to the appropriate City Council Committee to determine what revisions, if any, are necessary for Council consideration for adoption.
• "WHEREFORE, the City Council supports the Administration's efforts to improve enforcement of casino smoking regulations by working with the NJ Gaming Enforcement Division and is resolved to review Ordinance No. 27-2008 and determine what revisions, if any, are necessary for Council consideration for adoption."
• As of January 2014, we are not aware of any consideration by the Atlantic City City Council's Finance Committee other than a recommendation to wait until 2011, when the NJ Gaming Enforcement Division's argumentative resolution was unanimously voted down on December 9, 2009.
• As of November 16, 2008, smoking was once again permitted on the gaming floors of Atlantic City casinos. According to Ordinance No. 95, passed by the Atlantic City City Council on October 27, amending Ordinance No. 86 (passed January 24, 2007, effective April 15, 2007), casinos may designate up to 25% of their gaming floors as smoking-free, as they did prior to October 15. Ordinance No. 95 also does not automatically reinstate Ordinance No. 27, which mandated non-smoking gaming floors. This means that 95 allows casinos to maintain smoking indefinitely, with section 1 of 95 stating that the Revenue and Finance Committee will review the situation after one year.

From October 15 to November 15, 2008, casino gaming floors were required to be 100% smoke-free, except for separate, enclosed, ventilated, unmanned smoking lounges, in accordance with Ordinance 27.

On October 15, 2008, a press conference consisting of casino dealers, NJ GASP, other tobacco control advocacy groups, and the autoworkers union marked a historic milestone in the casino work environment in Atlantic City, the third highest gaming revenue city in the world. Employee gaming floors in Atlantic City are now 100% smoke-free, and casinos are permitted to maintain separate, enclosed, ventilated, unstaffed smoking lounges on their gaming floors for patrons. See NJ GASP's October 15 press release.

As of October 15, casino employees reported no disruptions to the implementation of the new smoking regulations. The initial implementation occurred at 12:01 a. m. on October 15 and went smoothly. See the October 15 Press of Atlantic City article and the October 16 Press of Atlantic City article about smooth transition after smoking ban goes into effect.

Despite these favorable opinions, the casino has resolved to revive smoking on the game floor. Some casinos that pushed this did not choose to build a smoking lounge on the game floor, but 7 out of 10 casinos were built a smoking lounge opened on October 15. In addition, two casinos were planning to build the smoking lounge. On October 8, the city council passed 5 to 4, in favor of the ordinance proposal#16-H (renamed#95 after the first reading session).