Connecticut, home to the huge Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casino resorts, has taken the first major steps toward banning smoking in casinos in the state, the Hartford Courant reported March 17.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal last week issued an opinion that the state had the right to ban smoking in the tribal-run casinos and that a ban likely would stand up to a court challenge, but that the legal battle also could be very costly.

Rather than engage in that fight, state lawmakers are hoping to negotiate with the tribes that own Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun. The Connecticut legislature's public-health committee, which has been considering a bill to ban smoking in the casinos, has proposed to establish a 10-member panel to hold talks with Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal officials, with the caveat that if discussions fail then the state-mandated ban would go into effect in February 2009.

The full Connecticut House and Senate still must vote on the plan. The Pequots and Mohegans oppose a state ban on casino smoking, contending that the state does not have jurisdiction over facilities located on tribal land. The Mohegans said they would not negotiate as long as the state continued to push for a legislative ban.