AC City Council Favors Postponing Casino Smoking Ban

AC City Council Favors Postponing Casino Smoking Ban The latest casualty of the nation's financial crisis may be the ban on smoking in Atlantic City's casinos. The city council voted 5-to-4 Wednesday night to give preliminary approval to postponing for a year the law that prohibits lighting up on gaming floors. A final vote will be held in two weeks. Councilman Marty Small: "What the casino execs have asked us to do -- they said that with the economy the way it is, on top of the increased competition, it would really put them in a tough spot." Casino workers showered the council with boos after the vote. They had been protesting, trying to convince lawmakers that keeping the ban in place is the only way to protect their health. It was supposed to take effect next week, but the casinos had been pleading with lawmakers to put the ban on hold until the economy improves.