Possible smoking ban in AC

[njmike37]

JHock,
 
I will ask around today at work to see if this rumor is true.  I can't see Harrah's doing such a bold move, but I'll let ya know what I find out.
 
Mike

[faygo]

 I had reason to be talking to a Casino in the Marina Distict yesterday on another issue, when I broached the question on what they are going to do about making an area for smokers. They belived they had to do something. To quote " Connecticut is too easy to get to".
 
Guess we will just have to wait and see.

[JHock12]

It seems to me that the only reason the casinos would even consider this after intense lobbying for the compromise is that they don't want to spend the money building these areas and then have to ban it anyway.  It seems clear that the nanny-state smoking police is not going away anytime soon and maybe the state might finally close the loophole that the casinos enjoy-AC as we know and love it is on borrowed time.  Viva Las Vegas!  Viva Uncasville(not)!

[njmike37]

JHock,
 
Well, apparently that rumor does have some validity to it.  It isn't for sure, but I guess Harrah's IS worried about spending all that money building smoking sections only to have a permanent ban in the future.  The execs have been trying to secure a solid answer on this partial ban before they build the smoking sections.. basically they won't build the sections until they are assured they will not be building them for no reason.  If they can be assured that no permanent ban will happen in the future, they'll build them. 
 
So basically, it's still pretty much in the air, unfortunately..
 
One more thing I almost forgot.. Showboat has a private, one-room high limit baccarat pit that is actually in the poker room.  It is secluded, separated from the rest of the room.  We get a lot of seven-stars players that love the table because they are pretty much to themselves.  They rope off the table occasionally, and have lots of security so as to keep the "regular folk" out.  Showboat's poker room is entirely non-smoking EXCEPT for that high limit table.  Almost every single time I have looked at that table and someone is playing, they are smoking.  I can't imagine the high rollers coming up to play baccarat, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars (I have seen consistent bets of $1000-$10000 per hand) and being told, oh I'm sorry, even though you're spending $100000+, you can't have a cigarette... LOL
 
Mike

[faygo]

njmike37
With tommorow being the 15, from what I uderstand the beginning of the smoking ban in AC, do you have an update as to what the casinos are doing?
Faygo
 

[BOOPSAHOY]

I was at the Taj this weekend. All day Saturday people were walking around putting non smoking stickers on the machines (boohoo)Sunday they had around 4 different areas that had smoking allowed signs.Mostly areas that were up a step or 2. The Sultans Palace for one. They didnt move ANY of the Super Times Pay machines into smoking areas. grrrrrrr They didnt redistribute the machines at all. I hope they do some canvassing of players before they set up permanent areas so that everyone can play the machines they like whether they smoke or not. Understand Im not against the smoking/nonsmoking ares Im just peeved that I am being penalized for being a smoker by not being able to play the games I like!

[bigboy]

Thanks for the heads-up, Barb. I was actually considering going down to the Taj at the end of the month. Now I know that I can forget about A.C. if this is how it will be.

[JHock12]

The only way the powers-that-be will get it is if people desert AC in droves, which I really don't think will happen.  Already Harrah's and the Trop have knuckled under and said they will build smoking lounges and eventually have the whole floor smoke-free.  This is what the smoking police wants because they know that as soon as AC goes 100% the dominoes will fall.  The only way to stop this is to vote with your bankrolls and patronize casinos that cater to the player.  That's what this is all about.  We are talking about New Jersey here, and as a lifelong resident I can tell you that money talks and b.s. walks. 

[stephmo]

I was just at the Borgata on Friday, and let me tell you, this smoking ban stinks!!! I am strictly a "casino smoker", and I do enjoy having a cigarette while I gamble. The designated "smoking" areas are random, and did not include many of my favorite machines. It is a nuisance to have to get up when you want to smoke, to find a designated area. I felt like a criminal. On top of that, I finally found a  group of six 3/5 play machine for quarters that I could smoke at, and the lady next to me asked me to stop!!  To add insult, I found the machines in the smoking area very tight. I am going to Mohegan Sun from now on. My AC days are over!

[roynassau]

Hello
 
Hurray, I'm so glad about this latest smoking ban.
It compares with Hawaii, lovely news!
Since the ban has been put into effect on Hawaii it means that I can vacation there without having to pre-book a room.
Now I just turn up and take my pick of any of the hundreds and hundreds of empty, lovely, sweet smelling non-smoking rooms I choose. In the past Hawaii used to be crammed full to bursting point with hoards of nasty, smelly tourists, but not any more.
Thing have changed for the better, the majority of tourists who used to visit Hawaii have changed destinations and are going to places like the Bahamas, where they can smoke as much as they like.
I say good riddance, glad to be rid of them, after all, we don't need them spending their dollars here if they are going to smoke those nasty cigarettes...... do we?
 
Another thing that makes me really mad is the fact that some people are actually trying to promote hotels who give their guests a choice between smoking and non-smoking rooms, see http://www.smokingwelcome.com
I think this is wrong and should be stopped, the government should ban any form of choice and freedom whatsoever, and effect total control over what used to be known as "personal freedoms".
 
 
Roy Blatant Advertizer (tongue placed firmly in-cheek)