St. Louis -- About 1,000 people were evacuated from Harrah's St. Louis Casino and Hotel this morning after a fire started inside an exterior wall. Pattonville Fire Department Battalion Chief Robert Murray said that the casino called around 9 a.m. saying smoke was filling a stairwell. The fire broke through the building's outer wall and was quickly extinguished by a crew waiting outside, Murray said.

East St. Louis, Illinois - The Casino Queen in East St. Louis is reporting that its business is down, and executives are blaming Illinois' smoking ban. Initially, the USD 92 million new casino, which opened last summer, saw revenues increase from the smaller boat, but business has declined since January 1st when the state's ban on smoking in public places took effect. Casino manager tom Monaghan says the drop in business has been devastating.