Workers with Unite Here Local 54 on Monday ratified deals with five Atlantic City, NJ casinos, leaving only Resorts and Golden Nugget workers without contracts.
While the national casino economy is doing well, there are pockets of sluggishness such as Atlantic City, where in-person casino revenue has not yet rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
About 250 Atlantic City, NJ casino workers held a rally in a waterfront park to call on the state Legislature to pass a bill that would ban smoking in the gambling halls. Atlantic City casino workers feel they are closer than ever to getting it done.
Casinos in Atlantic City NJ are spending millions on new projects ahead of a busy summer as pandemic fears lessen and the casino industry sees more business.
Atlantic City casino workers are furious that the New Jersey Legislature is moving quickly to pass a bill giving tax breaks to the gambling halls, but not acting on a measure that would permanently ban smoking in the casinos.
Bills advanced in the Senate that would reduce the casino's yearly payments in lieu of property taxes and add a $3 nightly surcharge on stays in casino hotels.
"Allowing smoking in casinos is letting this small minority impose their stinky and dangerous habit on the overwhelming majority, and it's time to stop it," an Atlantic County resident says.
Hard Rock would need permission from New Jersey voters to build in the Meadowlands — a plan in 2016 that would have authorized casinos outside Atlantic City was soundly rejected.