Atlantic City may delay implementation of a smoking ban that casino operators say will result in further economic damage to an already reeling industry, the Associated Press reported Oct. 7.

With the national economy tumbling, the Atlantic City council will meet on Wednesday to discuss delaying the Oct. 15 start of the comprehensive smoking ban.

A partial ban has limited smoking to one-fourth of each casino floor for the past year and a half. The complete ban would prevent smoking on all casino floors with the exception of unstaffed, enclosed smoking lounges.

Nearby states such as Pennsylvania and Connecticut have partial bans or permit smoking in their slot parlors and casinos.

Marty Small, a city councilman, said that local casinos account for more than three-fourths of Atlantic City's taxes. The council could not have anticipated the economic slide when they first approved the ban, said Small. "We have to balance the health of the casino workers with the health of the casinos themselves," he said.

Jennifer Guillermain, a supervisor at Caesars Atlantic City who is awaiting test results for possible lung cancer, said that casino workers want the ban to start on time. "These greedy casino owners sit up in their smoke-free offices, and we're the ones dying for their bonuses," she said.

Donald Trump, owner of the Trump Taj Mahal Casino resort, said delaying the ban is necessary. "The smoking ban will take tens of millions of dollars of taxes away," said Trump. "It's going to be a disaster."