High stakes: The gambling industry says a smoking ban in Illinois cost that state's casinos USD 415 million - or nearly 21 percent - in 2008, and the state USD 177 million in taxes. Colorado is the only other state that fully bans smoking in casinos, and its gambling revenues dropped significantly in the same year. Momentum growing: Two smoking ban measures have been introduced in the Missouri Legislature, neither of which exempts casinos.

Workers at Ameristar Kansas City Casino and Hotel who are smokers must step outside for a puff. When their break is over, many must return to duty on the gaming floor - where gamblers are permitted to light up but the workers can’t while they’re on the job. “We used to have a smoking area inside for our team members, but they can’t anymore because the city ordinance prohibits that,” said Ameristar spokeswoman Roxanne Kincaid.

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,"...

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-weather fruit machines that smokers can play outside are planned by pub bosses to combat a huge slump in takings. The new generation of one-armed bandits are urgently needed because income from pub machines is down GBP 200million in the past seven years. Many landlords, already struggling to survive competition from cut-price supermarkets, are getting rid of fruit machines because they make a loss.

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.

Where there's smoke, there's a potential jackpot. Or so it seems at Arizona's 22 casinos, which are on Native American land, where state anti-smoking laws don't apply. But in an age when an estimated 80 percent of Americans don't smoke, tribal casinos are investing in smoke-clearing equipment to keep non-smokers happy and playing the slots. "It's a business decision casinos are making," said Sheila Morago, executive director of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association.

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.

The parliament of Monaco last month voted to ban smoking in all public places, including casinos. The edict will go into effect in six months. An earlier version of the bill exempted casinos, but that was removed at the last minute. It is likely, therefore, that Monaco will experience a drop of at least 15 percent in gross gaming revenues, if the experience of the neighboring French casinos is any indication.

Detroit (AP) - If smoking is banned in Detroit bars, restaurants and workplaces, Betty Gilbert says it will hurt the city's casinos. Gilbert, who was smoking a cigarette Friday with members of her bowling team on a sidewalk near Greektown Casino downtown, should know. The 69-year-old from Cape May County, N.J. - who said she usually gambles weekly in Atlantic City - plans to cut back when that city's smoking law goes into effect.