Smokers have been prevented from lighting up on most of the floors in Atlantic City's 11 casinos as new smoking restrictions come into force in the US.
Punters will only be allowed to puff away in 25 per cent of the gaming areas, with 75 per cent of floor space reserved as smoke-free areas.
Under a September 15th deadline, mecca managers will be required to have submitted blueprints for permanent enclosed areas in order to accommodate smokers to the city councils.
Thomas Hickey, director of corporate communications for the Trump Plaza, Taj Mahal and Marina casinos told the New York Daily News: "There will be a mix of games in areas on the floors where smoking will be allowed. The goal is to offer a representative mix to all of our patrons who wish to smoke."
The newspaper reports that the Tropicana, Harrah's, Showboat, Bally's and Caesars all plan to create smoking lounges in the near future, with gaming areas going entirely smoke-free.
As the clock struck 12:01 am on Sunday, the new ban came into force and smokers at Bally's were offered free lollipops by staff. 'No smoking' signs at many of the casinos warned smokers of fines if they lit up in non-smoking areas.
Bouncers at some of the casinos said they were prepared to enforce the ban. One supervisor commented: "If we spot somebody smoking in a non-smoking area, we will ask them to stop, but we don't want to make a criminal out of anybody."
Smokers have been prevented from lighting up on most of the floors in Atlantic City's 11 casinos as new smoking restrictions come into force in the US.