SPRINGFIELD - While a statewide smoking ban awaits approval from Gov. Rod Blagojevich, some lawmakers are working to ensure casino patrons across the state can still light up a smoke before laying down their money.

Shortly after the state Senate approved the ban last month, lawmakers began drafting plans to exempt the four Illinois riverboat casinos that sit along the state border.

The hope was to prevent smokers from leaving Illinois riverboats for smoker-friendly casinos sitting just minutes away across state lines. On Thursday, a plan emerged to allow smoking at all nine of the Illinois casinos.

"We are looking to exempt all of the boats," state Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, said Thursday.

Clayborne said casino officials warned him that 80 percent of their patrons are smokers and that the ban could mean a 20 percent hit to their bottom line.

But Clayborne argued those losses could translate into fewer dollars for school funding.

The push for smoking in casinos underscores the sway that Illinois gaming industry wields in Springfield where, according to state records, they have contributed $475,592 in campaign financing since 2005.

Last month, lawmakers hugged and let out celebratory whoops and hollers after sending the ban to the governor for final approval. But some say the celebration was shortsighted.

"The state has a partner in gambling, and though people may not like to hear that, the state drew almost $700 million alone from gaming last year," said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. "If we are going to be in that business, then we ought to allow the casinos, our business partner, to run the most profitable business they can run."

But business should not trump health interests, argued American Lung Association spokesman Mike Grady.

"We reject the economic argument. There is no evidence that casinos will lose business," Grady said. "And from a public-health perspective, everybody deserves the same rights to protection."

Clayborne said he did not know what kind of resistance the proposal might receive and would not speculate on its prospects.

The legislation, Senate Bill 890, needs approval from the state Senate before being sent to the House for consideration.