Atlantic City Still Arguing Smoking Ban

The City Council in Atlantic City addressed a loophole in a 2006 state anti-smoking law that generally banned smoking in public places except for cigar bars and the gaming floors of Atlantic City's 11 casinos. After more than a dozen hours of hearings, council introduced the 75 percent ban at its Jan. 24 meeting. It gives casinos deadlines to build separate enclosures for its smoking sections. Council members said the compromise was done in part to keep casinos from challenging the measure in court. Casinos had earlier complained about potentially losing customers to places where they could smoke, leading to job losses. A complete ban of smoking was supposed to take place in April of this year.