N.J. Smoking Ban Stacks Deck in Casinos' Favor?

April 12, 2006 — -- The exotic dancers were up in arms. Billed as the "Hundred Stripper March," the women converged on New Jersey's state capital in January to protest the new indoor-smoking ban.

"I've been in the bar business 42 years, I've never had a customer say to me, 'I can't stay in here, it's too smoky,'" said one of the protestors.

Every year an estimated 53,000 Americans die because of exposure to secondhand smoke, say health experts, and that's not to mention the hundreds of thousands who develop serious diseases as a result -- cancer, asthma and heart disease. So far,18 states have passed laws banning smoking in public places, but sometimes special exemptions in those laws make the bills all but meaningless.

Despite the strong emotions of the pole-dancers, polls of New Jersey residents indicate that an overwhelming majority support an indoor-smoking ban.

But some of the protestors -- and many health experts -- say one controversial provision in the bill that caters to casinos indicates the state's politicians may have an addiction of their own -- to money, power and the influence of big business.

The indoor-smoking ban, which was signed into law in January by then acting-Gov. Richard Codey, applies everywhere in New Jersey except for it's No. 1 tourist destination, Atlantic City's casinos. That powerful $5 billion a year industry managed to get an exemption from the law.

So even after the ban takes effect on April 15, it will be perfectly fine for smokers to take a long drag and exhale toxic smoke on the gaming floors and bars inside Bally's Wild Wild West, the Sands, Trump's Taj Mahal and the other casinos in Atlantic City, which attract more than 30 million visitors a year.

Codey says he would have preferred not to exempt the casinos but says stacking the deck in their favor was the only way he could get the bill passed.

"I came up with a compromise," Codey said. "I thought it was fair and reasonable to move on and get the rest of New Jersey smoke-free."