SPRINGFIELD | Illinois casino officials continue to blame the state's indoor smoking ban as riverboat gambling revenues have fallen for the fourth straight month, a report shows.

Each of the state's nine riverboat gambling sites took in less money in April than they did in the same month last year, for an average loss of about 19 percent, according to the Illinois Gaming Board's monthly report. Each casino also saw its revenues and attendance drop from March to April.

Even as the country's economy struggles and people may be more likely to cut some of the extras out of their personal budgets, Illinois casino officials say the smoking ban is what's hurting the state's boats.

"We still believe it's the smoking ban," Illinois Casino and Gaming Association director Tom Swoik said.

Illinois' falling casino revenues have prompted several attempts to exempt riverboats from the state's smoking ban, which went into effect Jan. 1. That effort has failed so far this year.

State Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon, said the ban could hurt, but the economy plays a role, too.

"You can't attribute the whole 19 percent to smoking," Jones said. "It's because of the economy and the high price of gasoline."

Revenue drops between April and the same month last year range from a nearly 27 percent drop in Alton to a 5 percent decrease in East St. Louis. Casino Rock Island posted a loss in the same period of 17 percent. Metropolis showed a 25.5 percent loss. The Empress Casino in Joliet lost about 26.5 percent in revenue over last April and Harrah's Casino in Joliet lost almost 18 percent.

Illinois' numbers do appear to be sharper declines than neighboring boats in Iowa and Indiana. Reports in Indiana show the state's take in gambling taxes has decreased slightly between April 2007 and 2008. Attendance took a slight hit.

-- Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.