City Council dropped the ball a year ago when it reached a compromise to appease the powerful casino industry by allowing smoking on up to 25 percent of a casino floor.

A partial smoking ban simply makes no sense. It is dangerous public health policy. It exposes thousands of casino employees and millions of gamblers to the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Council's action would supersede the state's 2006 indoor smoking ban, which exempted casinos.

There is no good reason for casinos to be exempt from smoke-free rules that other businesses with a public clientele were forced to comply with. The time has come for gamblers to stub out their cigarettes, too.

In fact, the state should remove its exemption for casinos. After all, the casinos have yet to fulfill their part of the bargain by constructing permanent, ventilated areas for non-smokers who want to gamble.

Atlantic City casino operators claim they could lose up to 20 percent of their revenue and 3,400 jobs collectively if patrons who want to light up while they gamble take their business to states where they can smoke.

Undoubtedly, revenues may dip for a while with a total smoking ban. But the experience of restaurants that became nonsmoking environments shows that business can not only recover but even thrive. And gamblers, like restaurant patrons, can always step outside for a smoke.

Polls across the country show most people support indoor smoking bans. A Pennsylvania bill would prohibit smoking in most workplaces, including restaurants, bars and casinos. Philadelphia has a smoke-free law.

Atlantic City Council should give gamblers and casino workers the clean air they deserve.