Hollywood Casino Perryville is seeking state regulators' permission to expand its gaming floor to include an outside area where smoking is permitted.

The casino is requesting that 14 of its slot machines be moved to an existing smoking patio.

Smoking is barred inside Maryland's five casinos, but is permitted in outdoor gambling areas.

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and Rocky Gap Casino Resort currently offer outside smoking areas with slot machines. Rocky Gap won approval last year to convert a smoking deck into a gambling space.

Hollywood Casino's request came in a letter earlier this month to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Agency. The smoking patio would be protected from the elements by a roof and retaining wall.

Agency staff has endorsed the proposal, which is scheduled to be considered by state gaming commissioners at their regular meeting on Thursday.

Hollywood Casino has 850 slot machines.

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