The reels are always spinning in the gambling industry, and “The Double Down” is here every Friday to catch you up on all of the week’s biggest news. Sports Handle’s “Get a Grip” rounds up everything on the sports betting side, and US Bets provides the best of the rest: brick-and-mortar happenings, online casino developments, poker headlines, horse wagering, and more. So pull up a chair, crunch the numbers, and slide forward another stack of chips.

Flame duck session

Politico’s Daniel Han reported Thursday that a long-awaited vote by New Jersey lawmakers on bills to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos appears likely during this year’s lame duck session after the November elections.

Han’s social media post said state Senate President Nick Scutari “has privately told Senators that a bill banning indoor casino smoking is expected to be posted for a full Senate vote during lame duck, as per 3 Senators who said they spoke directly w Scutari.” He quoted state Sen. Vince Polistina as saying, “[Scutari said] that we’re going to have votes on the non-smoking bills after the election. As we sit here now, I expect we’ll see votes in lame duck.”

It’s a contentious issue. Smoking is banned in most indoor spaces these days, but casinos and simulcasting facilities are the exception in New Jersey. Some casino operators say banning smoking would cost them business. Those customers who like to smoke in casinos oppose the bans. The group CEASE (Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects) has been pushing for a smoking ban in the name of their own health and the health of other casino patrons.

This week on US Bets, gambling industry stalwart Richard Schuetz wrote about his recent experience testifying on the issue in Pennsylvania. His position is clear. “I think a valuable experience for every legislator who believes that smoking should be allowed in casinos would be to have them stand and act like they are dealing cards and have four or five people blowing smoke toward them from about three feet away,” Schuetz wrote.

New Jersey leads the way on many gambling issues, but on this one, it has lagged behind other states. There are 20 in which every commercial casino is currently required to be smoke-free. New Jersey joined their ranks temporarily after casinos first reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic, but later reverted to form, and now Atlantic City’s nine casinos all have areas — adding up to about 20% of the casino floor — that permit smoking.

Thursday’s news on bills S264 and A2151 was greeted with enthusiasm by Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights President and CEO Cynthia Hallett.

“We’re thrilled that New Jersey lawmakers will hold a much-anticipated vote to end indoor smoking in casinos and protect the lives of thousands of Atlantic City casino workers,” Hallett said in a statement. “We’re especially encouraged that the bill appears likely to receive a vote as currently drafted, without amendments that would weaken it and continue to put workers’ health in jeopardy.”

Hallett expressed confidence that all the bills need is to be forwarded for a vote, conveying assuredness that the bills will “easily pass” and noting that Gov. Phil Murphy has repeatedly said he would sign the legislation if and when it reaches his desk.

All 120 seats in the New Jersey legislature are on the ballot on Nov. 7. There will be impactful results up and down the Garden State. But for those with a vested interest in the casino smoking exception, it seems the real action will start after Election Day is over.

This week on Gamble On …

Every Thursday, US Bets drops a new episode of the Gamble On podcast, and this week’s welcomed SiriusXM NBA Radio’s Brian Geltzeiler ahead of the 2023-24 hoops season to talk everything from the in-season tournament to in-game betting:

"The NBA is not shying away from it. The NBA is partnering with all of it."@BGeltzNBA, on the latest episode of Gamble On, analyzing the NBA's relationship with betting and how big live-betting basketball can become https://t.co/st1EeD0UoY pic.twitter.com/sUKq1MNgsL

— US Bets (@US_Bets) October 20, 2023

Clean as a whistle

FireKeepers Becomes First Michigan Casino To Fully Commit To Clean Energy

Cannibal lecture

Research Analyst Sees No Basis For ICasino Cannibalization Concerns

Tipico situation

Tipico Launches New ICasino App In New Jersey

Reve-news on both sides of the Delaware River

Pennsylvania’s ICasinos Breeze To Record High Revenue In September

New Jersey Gaming Revenue Totals $521.5 Million For September

Record scratch in Motown

Detroit Casino Workers Officially Go On Strike After Failed Negotiations

Do it for the kids

Massive Powerball Jackpot Leads To Windfall For New York Schools

What’s new in the Old Dominion

Virginia Ban On Electronic Skill Games Reinstated, Casinos Report Monthly Revenue

Richmond Pro-Casino Efforts Intensify Ahead Of November Referendum

Unhelpful helpline stats

New York Report On Problem Gambling Shows 26% Increase In Calls To Helpline

Northville negotiations

Cautious Optimism Parts Clouds As Northville Downs Relocation Plods On

A fine mess

Pennsylvania Gaming Board Imposes Four Fines Totaling $73,075

NCPG funding problem gambling awareness for kids

With the phrase “meet people where they are” in mind, a Maine educational group will be developing a graphic novel about youth gambling prevention for distribution throughout New England. The idea, developed by the AdCare Educational Institute, is one of five that will come to fruition in the future in part because of funding from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

The NCPG announced Thursday that it is awarding $176,000 in “Agility Grants” to five groups that are working to prevent problem gambling. The NFL, through its foundation and in support of its responsible gambling awareness program, and FanDuel fund the grants.

Two groups were awarded funding for prevention innovation programs. The Alabama Council on Compulsive Gaming Prevention was awarded a grant for its “It’s More Than Just a Game” campaign, which educates middle school students, and the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado was awarded a grant for developing and sharing its “Stacked Deck” problem gambling prevention program in high schools.

Three groups got funding for prevention amplification programs. The AdCare Educational Institute of Maine will use its grant for the graphic novel. The Lorain County Problem Gaming Prevention Initiative in Ohio will get funding to develop a campaign aimed at teens and using social media, video, and other digital media to appeal to younger people. And the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling has plans to launch its “Culturally Infused Problem Gambling Prevention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumers,” which will incorporate “values, beliefs, worldviews, and cultural nuances” of the community in educational materials.

— Jill R. Dorson

Three U.S. stops on WPT’s global 2024 schedule

The World Poker Tour unveiled Thursday the first half of its Season XXII schedule, running from January-June 2024, featuring four WPT Main Tour festivals and seven WPT Prime festivals. The agenda has a decidedly international flavor, with stops from Amsterdam to Slovakia to Vietnam. But there will also be three tournament series right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

From March 23-26, WPT Rolling Thunder comes to Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, California, with a $3,500 main event buy-in.

From April 19-23, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, plays host to the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, also with a $3,500 main event.

And from May 3-6, WPT Choctaw shuffles into Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma, with a $3,800 main event.

“As we approach the end of Season XXI and the WPT World Championship, we are proud to share the schedule for the first half of Season XXII,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said via press release. “We worked vigorously with our casino partners to solidify dates for these impressive, value-packed festivals so that players may look ahead to and plan for their 2024 schedules.”

— Eric Raskin

More from around the gambling biz

ANOTHER UNHAPPY UNION: Workers picket Harrah’s Philadelphia for first time since casino opened [Delco Daily Times]

DRUG CHARGES: High roller offers $500K reward, says he was drugged while gambling [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR: Marriott and MGM Resorts delay partnership launch to 2024 [The Points Guy]

ONLINE AND UPWARD: Ontario igaming revenue more than doubles in Q2 [iGB North America]

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Following sports betting and lottery division sales, Light & Wonder CEO says focus is on games [The Nevada Independent]

COPS AND ROBBERS: Las Vegas police officer gets 12 years in prison for trio of casino robberies netting $165,000 [Associated Press]

STARTING … NOW!: Canterbury to time races straight from the gate, eliminating ‘run-ups’ [Daily Racing Form]

Image: Blundell Design