Ok, One Last Time About the Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban..

To the pundits, the readers, the members and everyone in between, there is no doubt where my opinion lies when it comes to the effects of the smoking ban on Atlantic City casinos. For those of you not intimately involved with the day to day routine of the Atlantic City New Jersey area, today officially, a suspension of that ban was created. The expected back lash or anti-smoking groups, labor groups and any one else that fits into that category of course is completely irate at this latest step back in there cause. I even heard on a local talk radio station today one caller trying to make the case that anti-smoking laws actually had little to do with contributing to the declining performance of the Atlantic City Casinos. She cited the fact that during the same time the Las Vegas Casinos, which do not have anti-smoking legislation in place, have also reported a decline of 22% during the same time period. No doubt her point being that, overall, the failing economy is the real monster behind all decline and unfortunately, the anti-smoking laws in the Atlantic City casinos is just a spurious correlation.

Well, first and foremost, as I start all my posts about this issue, I deplore smoking, have been personally effected by tragedy caused by disease to family members, and totally understand and agree that second hand smoke is a reality that exists. Then, as I also do, I have no choice but to acknowledge that with casinos and the market of consumer it attracts, an inconvenient truth is evident. With casinos come a whole type of personality. That includes, sad to say, people of vice and overindulgence. And yes, that includes smokers..Poker players like their cigars, old slot veterans love their long cigarettes. These people like to drink and smoke and that's just that.

The correlation of Las Vegas to what is happening in Atlantic City is very low. Yes, the economy is a part of both market's woes. Problem is Atlantic City's woe's started long before the economy's issues reared it's head. Between the smoking ban and increased competition from neighboring states, the effects came quick and powerfully.

So that's it. The ban is lifted at least for the time being. Let's see if the proof truly is in the pudding.