NJ bans smoking, drinking and eating inside casinos

New Jersey says venues cannot offer dining services or allow guests to smoke when they reopen from tomorrow.

US.- New Jersey has banned smoking, drinking and eating inside Atlantic City casinos just ahead of their reopening scheduled for tomorrow.

Governor Phil Murphy’s announcement of the new rules designed to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 has caused at least one casino to reconsider its plans to reopen tomorrow (July 2).

Governor Murphy said: “Compliance is not a polite suggestion, it is required — selflessness, not selfishness. So, unfortunately, the national situation, compounded by instances of knucklehead behavior here at home, are requiring us to hit pause on the restart of indoor dining for the foreseeable future.”

Many casinos had planned to reopen on July 2, the date the state lifts restrictions, but faced with the prospect of being unable to let customers eat or drink inside venues, were left to make last-minute decisions on whether to go ahead and reopen or not.

One casinos, the top-performing Borgata, has announced it will delay its reopening plans for the immediate future.

It said on Twitter: “We respect the Governor’s decision to postpone the reopening of indoor dining in New Jersey to protect the public. Given this decision, our property Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City will remain closed.”

According to local press, executives at other casinos held urgent last-minutes meetings to decide whether it mades sense to reopen, but finally all except the Borgata remain scheduled to reopen in the coming days. Tropicana, Ocean, Golden Nugget and Hard Rock were all due to reopen on Thursday. Harrah’s, Caesars and Bally’s are scheduled to reopen on Friday.

The Casino Association of New Jersey has said venues will offer take-out food services, room service for hotel guests, and that some restaurants would offer outdoor dining.