A.C. casino set to go smoke-free

Publication Date: 2007-02-26

• Author:WILLIAM H. SOKOLIC
• Publication:Camden (NJ) Courier-Post

As the Senate Health Committee considers closing the loophole which permits smoking on the casino floor today, at least one gaming hall expects to go 100 percent smoke-free.

The Tropicana Atlantic City would instead create nongaming smoking lounges in various locations throughout its huge casino.

"That might be the most practical way to do this," said Fred Buro, president and CEO of the casino hotel.

The lounges would be enclosed, separated by glass doors from the rest of the casino floor. The only employees would be those assigned to clean the lounge, and that would require closing it first, Buro said.

"What we wanted was a 100 percent smoke-free work place. If these areas are not where employees work, that's a big step," said Karen Blumenfeld, of New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution. "We're happy to hear that."