Gambling casinos in Atlantic City will be smoke free for seven days while city legislators decide whether to continue to delay a previously approved smoking ban for one year, the Associated Press reported Oct. 11.

Prompted by a dire economic outlook for the local economy, the city council had moved to postpone for one year a law banning smoking from casino gaming floors that was set to begin on Oct. 15. The council's preliminary decision needs a final vote on Oct. 22, however, creating a seven day non-smoking period.

The postponement was encouraged by the casinos and the head of the largest casino workers' union who feared that the ban, coupled with plummeting revenues resulting from economic woes, would lead to significant losses and layoffs.

William Marsh, president of the city council, predicted the one-year delay of the ban would win final approval. However, advocates for the ban said that the week of smoke-free air in the casinos could build support for making the prohibition permanent. "Casinos workers will finally breathe clean air and be in a safe workplace," said Karen Blumenfeld, executive director of the New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution (GASP).