Casino Chaos: Heavy Rain Causes Flooding, Smoking Ban Lawsuit Sparks Debate in Atlantic City

Casino-goers were left stunned as heavy rainfall caused water to pour from the ceiling at Las Vegas’ Harrah’s Casino. Footage shared on social media shows rainwater leaking through the roof, drenching nearby slot machines and causing chaos for patrons.
Meanwhile in Atlantic City, a lawsuit has been filed by the United Auto Workers union seeking to ban smoking in New Jersey’s nine casinos. The move would overturn the state’s indoor smoking law which currently allows gambling venues to have areas dedicated to smokers on their floors – however secondhand smoke is present throughout.
The Atlantic City main casino workers union, Local 54 of Unite Here, has asked a judge to dismiss this lawsuit, claiming that if smoking were banned, around one-third of the workforce would lose their jobs and means to support themselves and families. The current laws state that just under quarter (25%) of gambling establishments must have dedicated smokers areas, although they aren’t always located next to each other resulting in smoke permeating throughout the floor.
The United Auto Workers union argues that New Jersey’s indoor smoking law violates workers and gamblers constitutional rights for safety – but Matthew Platkin, representing Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and the state health department has urged a court to dismiss this claim stating it does not infringe on any purported right.
Nancy Erika Smith, lawyer behind the lawsuit filed by United Auto Workers union said: “I have never seen a union fight against the health and safety of their members, not once.” Donna DeCaprio who heads Local 54 also spoke out stating that a total smoking ban would be ‘catastrophic’ for Atlantic City as between half to three-quarters (50% -72%) of all gambling revenue won from in-person gamblers comes from these areas.
The union has endorsed legislation introduced earlier this year which proposes keeping the current 25% limit on smoking, but would allow it in unenclosed sections with slot machines that are more than fifteen feet away from table games staffed by live dealers and also enclosed separately ventilated rooms for smokers – although no worker should be forced to work there against their will.
The issue of whether or not to ban smoking is a contentious one in many states where workers have expressed concerns about secondhand smoke, with campaigns currently underway in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Virginia. Nicole Vitola who works as a Borgata dealer stated: “Instead of fighting for the health and safety of workers Local 54 are battling to allow casinos to continue poisoning their members with toxic second-hand smoke.”