Atlantic City, New Jersey (AP) -- With the economy crumbling and revenues plunging, Atlantic City is considering delaying the start of a total smoking ban at its 11 casinos. The ban, which was approved in April after a year-and-a-half battle between casino workers and gambling hall operators, is set to take effect Oct. 15. But even before it was approved, casino owners said they feared the ban would cost the industry millions of dollars in lost revenue and lead to job losses.

Offshore Goa casinos, where punters love to push their luck, will not be spared from the ban on smoking in public places, an official said. Shekhar Salkar, Goa tobacco control cell in charge, told IANS the ban would be extended to the several offshore casinos which dot the Mandovi river that flows by state capital Panaji. "Casinos are also public places. They will not be spared. We will not allow smoking in casinos whether they are docked at the wharf or are floating offshore,"...

Singapore: Some 29,000 Singaporeans will be banned from visiting the casino next year when the first integrated resort opens its doors. The first casino at Marina Bay is expected to open in the third quarter of next year. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) will start receiving applications for casino exclusion orders in January. And from January 2009, families may also apply for their members to be excluded.

The Norwegian Government has continued to press forward with legislation to ban payments handling online poker and internet gambling transactions, UIGEA-style. The government has formally submitted its proposed ban for a parliamentary vote, reports Gambling Compliance. The proposed ban, which widens the Norwegian definition of the offence of ’mediating’ bets, has already attracted widespread concern, pro and con.

A bill that would relieve a significant burden on US financial services companies forced to implement a ban on Internet gambling passed a critical hurdle in Congress today. The Payments System Protection Act (H.R. 6870), approved by the House Committee on Financial Services, would direct the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System, in consultation with the Attorney General.

Tourism Ministry ordered the National Commission of Casinos, Bingos and Slots, according to Official Gazette number 39,012, the suspension of casino and bingo licenses in the country. The new decree is more comprehensive that the one published in March 2008, specifically because it incorporated the requirements that casinos and bingos have to comply for the renovation of the operating license.

After seeking to ban Western dance and pop music, Malaysian northern state of Kedah wants to phase out gaming houses, something the non-Muslims, especially ethnic Chinese, resent. State Chinese Community Affairs Committee chairman Tan Wei Shu said although gambling was wrong in Chinese culture, the community would kick up a fuss if the local authorities shut down common gaming houses, reported a newspaper.

Denver - Not long after Congress passed a ban on Internet gambling, PR man John Pappas knew he had to be here at the Democratic National Convention. Pappas represented online poker players. Their ragtag Poker Players Alliance had been stunned by Congress’ midnight approval of the ban late in 2006. Internet gamblers had been powerless to block the bill. They were only loosely affiliated.

The Health Commission of the House of Representatives introduced a series of changes in order to create spaces 100% smoke-free in the Province of Buenos Aires. Among them, smoking will be forbidden in buildings belonging to the public administration, as well as in private spaces such as bars, restaurants, bingos and casinos. The prohibition could start before the ending of the year.

All fourteen Holland Casinos opened as smoke-free zones, following the introduction of a national smoking ban on the hotel and leisure industry. Research suggests that smokers are likely to spend twice as much on gambling per person compared to non-smokers. The correlation between smoking and gambling has long been evident. Several countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Australia and the United States have already imposed similar smoking bans...

On Jan. 1, a smoking ban went into effect in the state of Illinois, banning smoking in virtually all public places including offices, theaters, museums, libraries, educational institutions, schools, commercial establishments, enclosed shopping centers and retail stores, restaurants, bars, private clubs and gaming facilities. As a result of the ban, Illinois riverboat casino revenues have dropped significantly compared to the same time last year.

The pint-sized 7th Street Casino in downtown Kansas City, Kan., could thwart a metrowide effort to ban smoking on casino floors. Here’s why: Bans approved by Kansas City voters in April and the North Kansas City Council on Tuesday evening don’t take effect until “all” surrounding casinos also are covered by similar laws. The language in the two city-approved ordinances appears to cover the tribal 7th Street Casino owned by the Oklahoma-based Wyandotte Nation.