This week, many experts in the field of gaming alerted casino executives that their industry should prepare to come under fire from a group of well formed activists who do not agree with smoking in casinos. The well organized group of individuals has set their goal at banning smoking in casinos across the country.

The lobbying effort partners with a key public policy trend to outlaw smoking in public places in many states.

At the Global Gaming Expo this week, industry representatives said many casinos also are unaware of planned changes to air-quality standards that could basically culminate the banning smoking in casinos by necessitating costly upgrades to existing structures premeditated to house smokers.

Some representatives from the gaming industry say that smoke-free casinos are inevitable and that casinos need to contemplate changing their facilities to be smokeless over a period of time. Casinos can still profit from gamblers by selling anti-smoking aids instead of cigarettes.

Casinos should also get involved in the anti-smoking debate by observing local, state and federal legislation regarding smoking issues and encouraging their employees to do so also.

For years, the gaming industry has dealt with smoking and ventilation issues. Organizations against smoking have stated in the past that smoking bans don't effect business negatively and that venting systems in casinos and even other businesses do not remove cancer causing smoke from the air. On the other hand, Casinos point to a deterioration in earnings at Delaware casinos since a smoking ban took effect back in the year 2002, announcing a ban could funnel business to tribal casinos or other casinos in neighboring states that permit smoking.

Many smokers have announced that if a wide spread ban on smoking does take place, they would rely on the growing popularity of online gambling. They simply believe that if they stay at home and gamble they will at least be able to smoke in the privacy of their own home.