Workers from casinos across Atlantic City have banded together under the United Auto Workers union to push back against the New Jersey Smokefree Air Act (NJSAA). The law was implemented in 2006, prohibiting smoking in public spaces and workplaces. However, casino workers are unsatisfied with the NJSAA as it exempts casinos from anti-smoking restrictions. 

Countless hearings have proven unfruitful, with casinos continuing to experience highly concentrated levels of secondhand smoke today. Hence, the union has taken matters to the Superior Court in hopes of a total ban. 

A Move to Smoking Alternatives

Sen. John Burzichelli aimed to move the bill forward by proposing the introduction of designated smoking areas that are over 15 feet in distance from active dealer tables. Although the union ultimately rejected this, it spurred the call for a solution that would provide the best of both worlds. 

The Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey’s president, Christina Renna, urges union members to adjust their expectations to prevent alienating the vast majority of casino goers who smoke. As it is, only 10.8% of New Jersey adults smoke traditional cigarettes. According to Truth Initiative, this is already 4.7% lower than the national rate.

On the flip side, alternative products are on the rise. With more accessibility, individuals who want to continue enjoying their nicotine indoors may do so without overstepping the NJSAA and its proposed changes. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches primarily lead this emerging market of alternatives. A study on the distribution of new tobacco products published in Preventative Medicine Reports reveals that retailers’ pouch availability is roughly 76% across four US sites, with New Jersey’s availability just trailing behind Kentucky.  

The prevalence of nicotine pouches can work in favor of Atlantic City employees, as it removes the presence of secondhand smoke completely. For users, the pouch still provides nicotine via oral stimulation without the use of tobacco leaves or dust.  

Although the PMR study shows a significant number of chain convenience stores adopting nicotine pouches, the online market is the thriving force for alternatives in the city. ZYN Spearmint is a popular nicotine pouch product carried by online retailer Prilla, primarily known for its mint flavor. This is a particular feature that will likely appeal to menthol smokers, as New Jersey is potentially becoming the third state to ban menthol cigarettes. ZYN Spearmint also doesn’t contain tobacco materials and is instead filled with pharmaceutical-grade nicotine salt. Burning tobacco leads to the production of smoke filled with thousands of carcinogens and toxins, such as tar and carbon monoxide.  

Furthering the popularity of the pouch is On! The product is produced by the Altria Group, one of the biggest tobacco producers in the world. On! Coffee is one of the most sought-after variants, integrating a high nicotine level of 8mg a pouch. It uses a dry formula, which has a longer shelf life and evens out the balance of flavor with the nicotine. 

These latest innovations have spurred demand for pouches nationwide, with an unprecedented revenue boost in late 2023. As adults move to less harmful ways of consuming nicotine, smokers aged 18 to 44 are now three times more likely to use nicotine pouches than older ones. 

Creating New Spaces to Smoke

Atlantic City casino workers who wish to work in a smoke-free environment are also asking lawmakers to create more spaces dedicated to isolating smoking. One of their biggest gripes has been the constant exposure to smoke due to their vicinity to the 25% of allowable smoking space. The hope is that pushing other spaces will encourage nicotine users to engage in casino activities, having already smoked in a separate location. 

This course of action proves to be another promising path, as New Jersey has a surplus of cigar lounges. Casa De Montecristo makes use of a wide and luxurious space away from the vicinity of any other smoke-free institutions. There are also late-night options like Cigar Emporium, perfect for individuals just heading to or coming from the casino. With the court case underway, it remains to be seen whether these options will finally become solutions.