Smoking Ban will Hurt AC Slot Machines

Many people are incredibly happy about the new ban on smoking; however, even those that are happy about the ban are not happy about the slot machine part of the equation. New Jersey has decided to ban smoking which is not a bad idea, but to ban it in the slot machine and gambling casinos is.

With Pennsylvania bringing in more and more slot machines, Atlantic City should be looking at ways of keeping those gamblers here instead of over the border. However, New Jersey seems determined to ruin the cash cow they have by telling people that they might have to leave their poker table or their slot machine in order to go smoke a cigarette.

Many of those who smoke, who currently travel to AC, will simply turn their cars in the other direction and play the slot machines over there instead. Instead of banning smoking in slot machine casinos they should be looking at more pressing problems that the city may soon be facing. For the first time since the 70’s, AC will have to start looking for a revenue source that does not depend on slot machines.

The slot machines bring in more revenue than any other aspect of the casino – this is a fact. But people are not going to leave their slot machine, go smoke, and come back. They will leave or they will go do something else. The casinos are going to lose money either way, as the whole premise is to keep them in there and not let them realize what time it is. With them leaving their slot machines every fifteen minutes to smoke, it won’t be long before they realize the time and go home.



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