Looks Forward to Her Signing Smokefree Casino Bill on Day One
After Winning New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, Rep. Mikie Sherrill Must Add Smokefree Casinos to Her Agenda
For Immediate Release:
November 5, 2025
Contact:
ceasesmokingnj@gmail.com
Trenton, NJ — Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) congratulates Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill on her victory Tuesday and looks forward to working with her to close the casino smoking loophole that has left casino workers breathing toxic air for far too long.
“We congratulate Governor-elect Sherrill on her win and appreciate the opportunity we’ve had to discuss the urgent need to protect casino workers from secondhand smoke,” said Pete Naccarelli, longtime Atlantic City dealer and co-founder of CEASE. “Sherrill showed a willingness to listen and engage with us during her campaign, and we’re hopeful that as she takes office, she’ll stand with the tens of thousands of casino workers whose health depends on ending this outdated exemption. Smokefree policy is not only the right thing to do for workers, but a win for New Jersey’s economy and future. We’re ready to work together to get it done.”
Closing the casino smoking loophole has overwhelming public support — with recent polling showing that 83% of likely 2025 voters in South Jersey back legislation to make all workplaces, including casinos, smokefree. 77% of voters also stated they would view current Governor Phil Murphy more favorably if he signed a bill into law, and 79% said they would view their state legislator more favorably if they voted to pass the law — showing broad support for New Jersey lawmakers who work to close the casino smoking loophole.
CEASE appreciates the productive conversation they had with Rep. Sherrill’s office ahead of the election on the need for smokefree legislation, and looks forward to working closely with Governor-elect Sherrill to ensure that no one in New Jersey has to choose between their health and a paycheck.
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Casino Employees Against Smoking (Harmful) Effects (CEASE) is a group of thousands of casino dealers and other frontline gaming workers that formed after indoor smoking returned on July 4, 2021 in Atlantic City, NJ and has expanded to states around the country. CEASE is fighting to permanently remove smoking from our workplaces.
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