The Meadows Racetrack & Casino received approval from state officials today to open more slot machines to smokers.

State lawmakers gave casinos one of the exemptions in Pennsylvania's new public anti-smoking law that took effect in September, by letting smokers occupy 25 percent of the gaming floor. Casinos were allowed to expand the smoking space to up to 50 percent after 90 days, if revenue figures showed the smoking-permitted machines were receiving much more play than the others.

The slot machines in the smoking areas of The Meadows generated more than twice as much daily revenue from September through December as did the non-smoking machines, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

The temporary facility used by The Meadows consists of two tent-like structures connected by passageways. Under a plan submitted by the casino last month and accepted by the board's officials today, smoking will be allowed throughout the first structure entered by customers and the second structure to the rear will be entirely non-smoking, said David LaTorre, a spokesman for The Meadows.

He said the change would be implemented within 24 hours. No decision has been made about how to arrange smoking and non-smoking sections in the permanent casino to open in the spring, he said.