A New Jersey anti-smoking group started this week a campaign against isolated smoking areas in casinos. They argue that these areas increase smoke contamination inside and out the smoking areas, as proved by readings they took on gaming floors in Rhode Island.

According to Regina Carlson, executive director of the group called New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution, the more tightly you concentrate the pollution sources, the more highly you increase the pollution.

“The smoking section in one Rhode Island casino, containing 30 % of the gaming area, showed more polluted air than the smoking section in another casino, where the smoking section contained 50 % of the wagering area,” Carlson said.

Atlantic City casinos are seeking the approval of a new provision that would allow a 25 percent of the casino’s gambling floor to be walled off for smokers while the remaining 75 percent would continue to be a smoke-free area.