ANR Highlights Link Between Smoking and Problem Gambling, Calling for Healthier Gaming Environments

Trenton, NJ – Following the announcement of $720,000 in grants to treat individuals with gambling addictions alongside other mental health and substance use disorders, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is urging the New Jersey Department of Human Services to advocate for smokefree casinos as part of the state’s strategy to address problem gambling and promote public health. In a letter to Commissioner Sarah Adelman, ANR outlines how eliminating smoking in casinos can foster healthier environments and support recovery efforts for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

ANR highlights key findings from industry experts that show the comorbidity of gambling and smoking addictions. Studies have shown that “41–60% of individuals who struggle with problem gambling also have a tobacco use disorder, and untreated daily smoking may undermine the treatment of problem gambling given the strong associations between the two behaviors,” the letter states.


Comorbid smoking actually heightens gambling-related abuse, ANR reports, as “individuals with problem gambling who smoke have more severe gambling disorder symptoms, report stronger gambling cravings … [and] spend more money and time on gambling activities.”

The letter emphasizes the impact of secondhand smoke on mental health, noting that it exacerbates stress and anxiety while encouraging prolonged gambling sessions.

“As New Jersey expands access to gambling disorder treatment, including the integration of mental health and substance use disorder care, eliminating the environmental factors that fosters unhealthy behaviors such as smoking should be prioritized… By continuing to allow smoking in casinos, we are compounding the very issues the state is trying to address through comprehensive treatment programs,” writes ANR in the letter.

ANR cites a 2022 report from Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming, which revealed the casino industry’s awareness of the link between smoking and problem gambling. According to the report, casinos risk losing revenue when smokers take breaks. “In other words, they chose to play responsibly, and taking a periodic smoking break allowed them to do so,” the report explains.

ANR underscores support from leaders in the industry such as the National Council on Problem Gaming (NCPG), who has expressed support for ending indoor smoking in casinos in order to “reduce the incidence of problem gambling and improve public health.”

ANR’s letter urges Commissioner Adelman to protect casino workers and patrons by advocating for smokefree policies in casinos.

“The Department of Human Services can play a key role in this effort, by advocating for smokefree policies within casinos and working with the gaming industry to promote a healthier atmosphere for both patrons and workers. By eliminating indoor smoking in casinos, New Jersey can ensure a healthier, more responsible, and sustainable gaming environment for everyone—one that aligns with the state’s commitment to supporting individuals in recovery and promoting public health,” the letter concludes.

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Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) , sister organization to the ANR Foundation, is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for over 45 years, since 1976, to protect everyone’s right to breathe nontoxic air in workplaces and public places, from offices and airplanes to restaurants, bars, and casinos. ANR has continuously shined a light on the tobacco industry’s interference with sound and life-saving public health measures and successfully protected 61% of the population with local or statewide smokefree workplace, restaurant, and bar laws. ANR aims to close gaps in smokefree protections for workers in all workplaces, including bars, music venues, casinos, and hotels. For more information, please visit https://nonsmokersrights.org and https://smokefreecasinos.org.

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