A Las Vegas conference on smoking in casinos included studies detailing the health hazards of smoking as well as the economic costs of smoking bans in gambling facilities, the Associated Press reported May 24.

The 13th International Conference on Gambling & Risk-Taking drew a link between behaviors like smoking, drinking, and gambling. "A lot of people who gamble are self-abusing," said William Eadington, director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling & Commercial Gaming. "They like to smoke, drink and stay out too late."

Researchers from the University of Nevada at Reno said that casino floor workers are exposed to four times more tobacco smoke than any other workers, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer. On the other hand, economist Michael Pakko unveiled a study showing that Delaware casinos have lost about $100 million annually because of a state smoking ban; Pakko said that smoking gamblers are going to other casinos in the region that still allow them to light up.

Pakko's study was contradicted by another researcher, however, who said that the Delaware ban did not cause the predicted economic loss. And an Australian study found that while gamblers banned from smoking in casinos would step outside for a cigarette, they still went back inside to gamble. Those period of inactivity could cause a long-term decline in slot-machine revenues, but not a sharp decline, they said.

Antismoking advocates are hoping to get an initiative on the November ballot in Nevada banning public smoking in places where children are present, including restaurants and shops in casinos. A competing measure backed by the gambling industry would allow smoking in areas of grocery and convenience stores with slot machines, as well as in designated areas of restaurants and bars restricted to patrons ages 21 or older.