Workers protest lack of smoking ban talk

A casino workers’ protest was held outside an Atlantic City meeting at the Hard Rock Casino that failed to talk about a smoking ban.

A casino industry conference was due to talk about a proposed smoking ban, but the subject was not raised, infuriating workers who demonstrated outside, reports the Associated Press.

Around 100 gathered to chant slogans and wave banners in protest that the subject was not being aired. They were demanding that the state legislature act on a bill to ban casino smoking that is supported by many state lawmakers and by the governor, Phil Murphy.

The bill had been stalled without a hearing in a state Senate or Assembly committee, a repeat of a failure to discuss the matter last year.

Last week the East Coast Gaming Congress was to have had a panel discussion on the subject, but it was scrapped after a casino industry representative, Resorts Casino president Mark Giannantonio, withdrew.

He is the current president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, which is opposed to a smoking ban.