Possible smoking ban in AC
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JHock12
- Forum Regular
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Re: Possible smoking ban in AC
Well, it looks like sanity has finally won out in AC. A compromise has been proposed that would allow smoking in 25% of casino floors-walled off and heavily ventilated-seems like a good idea to me. The casinos would'nt have rolled over like the bars and restaurants did and would have kept this thing in the courts for years. Hopefully common sense will prevail and everyone can just get along.
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njmike37
- Senior Member
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JHock,
Yes, sanity finally DID win in AC. Although I am a smoker myself, I do understand the concerns of non-smokers and if they choose not to breathe second-hand smoke, I respect that. I will not smoke in a casino if I am on a machine next to a non-smoker. Typically, I'll ask if they are offended by smoke (usually I am just finding out if they are smokers themselves.. LOL)
My big beef was with the casino workers who were being very unreasonable (in my opinion..) In this new clause of 25% smoking/75% non-smoking, the casinos would have to make working in the smoking areas optional, which is a good idea. But the workers are still complaining about that fact. I am also a casino worker. I am a dealer at Showboat. When I agreed to work in the casino, my application CLEARLY stated.. "Job is located within a cigarette smoke environment." Every employee's application states this, and every job search you do on a casino job states this. If they were so offended with smoke, then I'm sorry, look for employment elsewhere...
What some of these employees don't realize is that it will be optional for them to work in the smoking areas when this passes (good news for them, but they don't see it that way..) and if the casinos would go completely smoke-free, a lot of our jobs may be in jeopardy. I've heard from MANY casino patrons that they would go elsewhere if they banned smoking. Most stated they would go to Delaware/PA for slots, and most table games players stated they would go to Foxwoods. I'm not sure if you can smoke in the slot parlors in DE or PA, but those people said that if they couldn't smoke, they'd rather just stay "at home" and play their machines.
If they do build the enclosed, ventilated areas that will constitute the 25% of casino floors that allow smoking, it will be a win-win. The employees that might have lost their jobs will get to keep them.. the casinos will not lose a lot of business, and the non-smokers will get to play in a place that will truly be non-smoking. Everybody wins.
One last point.. a lot of press has been noted about this stating that no casino employee will volunteer for the "gas chambers." This is what they are referring to the proposed smoking areas to.. sign me up.. I'll gladly accept the tips that they don't want to get. I knew I was working in a smoking environment when I started here, and so did they..
Mike
Yes, sanity finally DID win in AC. Although I am a smoker myself, I do understand the concerns of non-smokers and if they choose not to breathe second-hand smoke, I respect that. I will not smoke in a casino if I am on a machine next to a non-smoker. Typically, I'll ask if they are offended by smoke (usually I am just finding out if they are smokers themselves.. LOL)
My big beef was with the casino workers who were being very unreasonable (in my opinion..) In this new clause of 25% smoking/75% non-smoking, the casinos would have to make working in the smoking areas optional, which is a good idea. But the workers are still complaining about that fact. I am also a casino worker. I am a dealer at Showboat. When I agreed to work in the casino, my application CLEARLY stated.. "Job is located within a cigarette smoke environment." Every employee's application states this, and every job search you do on a casino job states this. If they were so offended with smoke, then I'm sorry, look for employment elsewhere...
What some of these employees don't realize is that it will be optional for them to work in the smoking areas when this passes (good news for them, but they don't see it that way..) and if the casinos would go completely smoke-free, a lot of our jobs may be in jeopardy. I've heard from MANY casino patrons that they would go elsewhere if they banned smoking. Most stated they would go to Delaware/PA for slots, and most table games players stated they would go to Foxwoods. I'm not sure if you can smoke in the slot parlors in DE or PA, but those people said that if they couldn't smoke, they'd rather just stay "at home" and play their machines.
If they do build the enclosed, ventilated areas that will constitute the 25% of casino floors that allow smoking, it will be a win-win. The employees that might have lost their jobs will get to keep them.. the casinos will not lose a lot of business, and the non-smokers will get to play in a place that will truly be non-smoking. Everybody wins.
One last point.. a lot of press has been noted about this stating that no casino employee will volunteer for the "gas chambers." This is what they are referring to the proposed smoking areas to.. sign me up.. I'll gladly accept the tips that they don't want to get. I knew I was working in a smoking environment when I started here, and so did they..
Mike
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BOOPSAHOY
- Video Poker Master
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- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:20 pm
My husband and I are both smokers-altho my husband only smokes while gambling or drinking-and we both said we would go to CT if the ban was passed. I am just afraid that the 25% for smokers will not have the machines we like to play. The casino should take some kind of poll of their smoking customers to see what machines they should put there. Hey Mike does this mean the smoking area will only have 2 STP machines?? (or none!) My husband and I will fight you for them LOL!
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stephmo
- Senior Member
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When will this 25% smoking area become effective?
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njmike37
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:51 pm
Barb,
You have the same concern as me regarding what machines/tables will be in the smoking area. They really haven't laid the foundation yet as to what would be in the smoking areas, and according to the city council, we may have a little more time to enjoy the entire casino. The ban was originally scheduled to go into effect in April, but if the casinos would be allowed to have these enclosed sections, they would need more time to be able to have the construction done. They will be doing a final vote very soon on the 75%/25% proposal (it is expected to pass) and also as to the amount of time casinos will have to prepare. The casinos will have to be inspected prior to opening the smoking sections to ensure that it is entirely enclosed in another room and has proper ventilation separate from the non-smoking areas. I'm guessing this is going to take at least a year (but that's just my guess...)
I asked my boss about the distribution a few days ago and he said that as far as slots/video poker goes, they should have an equal distribution of EACH machine in both the smoking/non-smoking areas, but the non-smoking areas would have more of each machine.. meaning that we "should" have the same choices as the non-smokers, just not quite as many of the same machines to choose from. As far as table games goes, they are not sure if they will be in the 25% exclusion as of yet. It is quite possible that all the table games will be in the non-smoking section, mainly due to the fact that with this 75%/25% compromise, the dealers have been the biggest complainers of the smoking, and they may just keep the games in the non-smoking areas. Most of the poker rooms in Atlantic City are already non-smoking (minus Bally's), so it shouldn't affect the poker room business at all (thankfully for good ole me! )
Believe me, you're not alone in the "We'll go to CT" thing. I don't think the casino workers realize how many people are serious about that. My parents are included in that. My mother has been a smoker for 45 years and is not about to quit smoking while she gambles, so if there's no smoking in AC, then bye bye..
In my honest opinion, I really think that the casinos will do a decent job with distributing the machines that both non-smokers and smokers enjoy. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything else. The final vote should be coming soon on the 75%/25% proposal and also the timeline on when it would start.
Mike
You have the same concern as me regarding what machines/tables will be in the smoking area. They really haven't laid the foundation yet as to what would be in the smoking areas, and according to the city council, we may have a little more time to enjoy the entire casino. The ban was originally scheduled to go into effect in April, but if the casinos would be allowed to have these enclosed sections, they would need more time to be able to have the construction done. They will be doing a final vote very soon on the 75%/25% proposal (it is expected to pass) and also as to the amount of time casinos will have to prepare. The casinos will have to be inspected prior to opening the smoking sections to ensure that it is entirely enclosed in another room and has proper ventilation separate from the non-smoking areas. I'm guessing this is going to take at least a year (but that's just my guess...)
I asked my boss about the distribution a few days ago and he said that as far as slots/video poker goes, they should have an equal distribution of EACH machine in both the smoking/non-smoking areas, but the non-smoking areas would have more of each machine.. meaning that we "should" have the same choices as the non-smokers, just not quite as many of the same machines to choose from. As far as table games goes, they are not sure if they will be in the 25% exclusion as of yet. It is quite possible that all the table games will be in the non-smoking section, mainly due to the fact that with this 75%/25% compromise, the dealers have been the biggest complainers of the smoking, and they may just keep the games in the non-smoking areas. Most of the poker rooms in Atlantic City are already non-smoking (minus Bally's), so it shouldn't affect the poker room business at all (thankfully for good ole me! )
Believe me, you're not alone in the "We'll go to CT" thing. I don't think the casino workers realize how many people are serious about that. My parents are included in that. My mother has been a smoker for 45 years and is not about to quit smoking while she gambles, so if there's no smoking in AC, then bye bye..
In my honest opinion, I really think that the casinos will do a decent job with distributing the machines that both non-smokers and smokers enjoy. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything else. The final vote should be coming soon on the 75%/25% proposal and also the timeline on when it would start.
Mike
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njmike37
- Senior Member
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stephmo,
Not sure as of yet. The vote is expected very soon on the new proposal (it passed the initial vote yesterday, and one more final vote needs to be taken to have it go into effect.) They will also be stating the time it will require the casinos to get the construction done should this bill pass. The casinos will definitely need some time to build these separate rooms and ventilation systems.
Keep checking this post, I'll update it whenever I hear something different.
Mike
Not sure as of yet. The vote is expected very soon on the new proposal (it passed the initial vote yesterday, and one more final vote needs to be taken to have it go into effect.) They will also be stating the time it will require the casinos to get the construction done should this bill pass. The casinos will definitely need some time to build these separate rooms and ventilation systems.
Keep checking this post, I'll update it whenever I hear something different.
Mike
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BOOPSAHOY
- Video Poker Master
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Thanks mike for your inside info!!! I need my STP!Do you think they will lower the pay tables to pay for the comstruction?
Barb
Barb
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JHock12
- Forum Regular
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- Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:28 pm
Mike, I am very tempted to write a "letter to the editor" to several NJ papers(Star-Ledger, Bergen Record, Press of AC)to state what you did about the info on your application which clearly states that the casino is a smoking environment. If I was working in or on a job that was affecting my health to the extremes these people claim, I WOULD QUIT! The problem is the smoking police has inundated us with these "facts" and "statistics"(which change almost daily)and now everyone actually buys this rubbish. I am a non-smoker, as I have stated before, but I just think casinos are a place where people go to relax, get away from daily life, gamble, drink, eat and yes, smoke. Anyone who doesn't understand this just doesn't get it and the predictions about lost business are accurate. P.S. I really enjoy Showboat and it is becoming a regular stop for me when I visit AC. I get a bus from my family's shore house on LBI to the casino and I really like the place. (with a cigar once in a while)
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njmike37
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:51 pm
Barb,
Good question! I sure hope they don't resort to doing that! It will cost the casinos millions, so I'm sure they'll make us "pay" for it somehow..
Here's an interesting article from the Press of AC that just came out today about the smoking "compromise."
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news ... 2561c.html
Mike
Good question! I sure hope they don't resort to doing that! It will cost the casinos millions, so I'm sure they'll make us "pay" for it somehow..
Here's an interesting article from the Press of AC that just came out today about the smoking "compromise."
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news ... 2561c.html
Mike
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njmike37
- Senior Member
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:51 pm
JHock,
Excellent post. Too bad the employees don't see it that way. They seem to forget that when they read and signed their applications that it clearly stated their jobs would be in a smoking environment. I'm with you.. if ya don't like it, then quit your job. These same employees that are complaining about the smoking are going to be the same employees that will be complaining about losing their jobs when business slows down if smoking was banned... guaranteed!
Glad to hear that you enjoy Showboat, too! It has really undergone quite a few changes in the last few years, and some good ones! We have great management, and business revenues have been growing each quarter for the last 3 years. The House of Blues was definitely a big part of that. If you ever get the urge for some live-game poker, stop up in the poker room. We have a nice room (small, but definitely a great atmosphere for a poker room.)
Mike
Excellent post. Too bad the employees don't see it that way. They seem to forget that when they read and signed their applications that it clearly stated their jobs would be in a smoking environment. I'm with you.. if ya don't like it, then quit your job. These same employees that are complaining about the smoking are going to be the same employees that will be complaining about losing their jobs when business slows down if smoking was banned... guaranteed!
Glad to hear that you enjoy Showboat, too! It has really undergone quite a few changes in the last few years, and some good ones! We have great management, and business revenues have been growing each quarter for the last 3 years. The House of Blues was definitely a big part of that. If you ever get the urge for some live-game poker, stop up in the poker room. We have a nice room (small, but definitely a great atmosphere for a poker room.)
Mike
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