ATLANTIC CITY - The nine-member Atlantic City Council voted unanimously yesterday to approve a controversial measure that would prohibit smoking on all casino floors for the first time in the seaside resort's 30-year history of gambling.

The ordinance, which would allow smoking only in specially built nongaming lounges inside casinos, must go before the council again for a second reading April 23. But Atlantic City Mayor Scott Evans - who must sign it into law - has publicly stated his support of a total ban and of restricting smoking to the lounges, virtually assuring its final passage.

"Absolutely, this is a major turning point," said Todd Salerno, community executive for the American Cancer Society for Atlantic County. "This is one more step forward in protecting the health of the entire workforce of New Jersey."

The Casino Association of New Jersey, which represents the city's casino operators, had argued that, since many patrons smoke, a full ban would lead to a further erosion of gaming revenue and profit and a loss of thousands of casino jobs. But the association eased off yesterday after winning more time to build the nonsmoking lounges.

The full smoking ban was to take effect 90 days after being signed into law by Evans. But just before the vote, a compromise was reached between council members and casino officials to extend the deadline to Oct. 15 to have the smoking lounges built.

"We're going to be compliant and do whatever we need to do to be compliant," said Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. chief executive officer Mark Juliano, "but give us enough time."

Source:http://www.casinonews.org/