Overview

• Atlantic City casino workers, represented by the United Auto Workers, have filed a lawsuit against New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and the state's health commissioner, claiming a law exemption exposes them to harmful secondhand smoke.
• The lawsuit seeks to overturn the exemption in the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2006, arguing it's unconstitutional and denies workers equal protection and safety.
• Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects (CEASE) reports members suffering from cancer and other smoking-related diseases despite not smoking themselves.
• New Jersey lawmakers have struggled to progress on casino worker protections against secondhand smoke, despite some advances in January.
• The lawsuit has sparked a broader debate on the economic impact of a smoking ban in casinos, with concerns about revenue loss and job security.