Atlantic City - New Jersey residents remain fundamentally split over whether or not people should be allowed to smoke in the resort's casinos, a new survey finds. Nearly two-fifths of the people polled by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind public opinion research center said smoking should be banned outright in gaming halls. But nearly half thought it merely should be limited to certain areas.

The Manitoba government says it will fight a lawsuit which challenges its right to ban smoking in aboriginal gambling centres. Manitoba Lotteries Minister Andrew Swan said Tuesday that First Nations certainly have their own jurisdictions — but the province has control over gaming. Manitoba will not issue new gaming licences unless they are for non-smoking facilities, regardless of where those facilities are located.

Hartford, Connecticut (AP) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says he's going to urge legislators again to ban smoking at the two casinos in the state. Blumenthal says he's responding to an agreement Mohegan Sun officials have made with the governor to eliminate second-hand smoke with high-tech ventilation systems. Workers at Foxwoods Resort Casino delivered a letter to Gov. M. Jodi Rell's office Wednesday...

The smoking ban will be extended to all indoor public places and some outdoor places by January 2009. The National Environment Agency (NEA) will also step up its enforcement efforts. Some outdoor places, like playgrounds and exercise areas, will be smoke-free next year. So too will all indoor public areas such as multi-storey and basement car parks, lift lobbies, non air-con shopping centres and shops. Many have observed that ash trays demarcate a smoking zone.

After a month of fresh air inside Atlantic City's 11 casinos, smoking is once again allowed. A temporary smoking ban expired at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, and gamblers will be able to light up again for at least the next year. Gladys Bryan of Philadelphia can't wait. Standing on the Boardwalk outside the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort (one of two casinos that forced its gamblers to go outside to smoke during the ban)...

Last Saturday, it came into force in Monaco a law that bans tobacco in public places. It was planned that casinos would be excluded, but finally, they would not be benefited on any status in particular. The implementation of the norm will no doubt be controversial, because the casino managers think that part of their customers will stop visiting their venues.

Atlantic City - Casino patrons will take their last breathe of fresh air on a city gaming floor Nov. 16 after City Council lifted a smoking ban Monday that went into effect 12 days ago. The 5-4 vote overturned council's unanimous decision in April to ban smoking at all 11 Atlantic City casinos, instead choosing to revisit the ban in a year with hopes that the country's economic crisis has subsided.

Atlantic City - Paula Cifelli, a dealer at Caesars Atlantic City, described one high roller who had the nasty habit of blowing cigar smoke in her face when he would lose at a hand of cards. "He intentionally blew smoke at me," Cifelli said. "He told me, 'If you don't want me to do this, I'll have to win.'" The cigar-chomping bad loser is gone from the gaming floor thanks to Atlantic City's new casino smoking ban, but Cifelli is worried that he and other smokers will return next week.

Atlantic City, New Jersey (AP) - Hoping they can convince at least one more city council member that a temporary ban on smoking in the casinos is working, casino workers are pushing to make the ban permanent. The council voted 5-4 last week to delay the ban for one year due to the economic crisis. But with a final vote scheduled for Monday on the council's stated intent to delay the ban...

Atlantic City, New Jersey (AP) -- For the first time in the 30-year history of legalized gambling in Atlantic City, gamblers aren't allowed to smoke while playing the slots or table games. A temporary smoking ban took effect Wednesday morning in the 11 casinos. The ban is due to last for at least 12 days but could then be put on hold for a year if the mayor signs a measure delaying it.

Atlantic City, New Jersey (AP) -- Atlantic City casinos will go smoke-free for seven days before allowing gamblers to light up again. City Council President William Marsh said Friday the unusual arrangement is necessary because the city can't legally stop a previously approved smoking ban from taking effect on Wednesday. "It is the law right now, and it will go into effect on the 15th," Marsh said. "We won't be scrambling around to try to change the date."

The French on and offline casino group Partouche saw full year pre tax profits for 2007 halved, and prospects for 2008 impacted by the introduction of a smoking ban in France, saying the ban made the outlook for 2008 "uncertain." In a statement this week, the company said net profit fell to 14.3 million euro from 28.7 million euro a year earlier, on sales down 1 % at 854.8 million euro as new security checks kept some customers away from its French casinos.