Donald Trump urging Atlantic City casinos to sue over smoking ban

Donald Trump urging Atlantic City casinos to sue over smoking ban Real estate magnate Donald Trump urged the 11 Atlantic City casinos to sue over the smoking ban passed by the City Council earlier this week. Trump, who is a chairman and the largest shareholder of the company Trump Entertainment Resorts that owns three casinos in Atlantic City (Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Trump Marina Hotel Casino), said he would not file a lawsuit personally, but wants the Casino Association of New Jersey to stop the casino smoking ban from taking effect later this year. According to Donald Trump, the full smoking ban at all eleven casinos in Atlantic City has created a competitive disadvantage and should be revoked. "I'm not a smoker, and I don't personally like what smoking does to people. But this puts us at a huge disadvantage," the real estate mogul was quoted.

Ever since a partial smoking ban was enforced in the Atlantic City casinos, many patrons have moved their preferred gambling spots to the close-by Philadelphia casinos, where smoking is allowed. The full smoking ban at the New Jersey casinos passed on Wednesday allows the casinos to construct gambling-free smoking lounges but does not require them to.

Published on 04/26/2008