Spain’s decision-makers have gone on summer break without resolving a casino smoking ban. That’s an issue for a new resort project from Sheldon Adelson, and a potential deal breaker. The country’s central government has started its annual August holiday without ruling on a request by Las Vegas Sands Corp that smoking be allowed in its proposed casino resort, reports the country’s ABC newspaper.

“The government has gone on vacation without a change to the casino smoking ban, or whether to allow smoking in EuroVegas,” said the outlet, using the name tag commonly applied by media – but not the company – for the estimated six billion euros (64.13 billion patacas) project.

Sheldon Adelson, chairman of LVS, said last month that he would delay proposals for construction of the scheme at its preferred site Alcorcón – a largely commercial district to the southwest of the Spanish capital Madrid – until there was clarity on whether smoking would be allowed in the casino portion. Since January 2011 Spain has banned smoking in all indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars and cafes.

Michael Leven, chief operating officer of LVS and head of its global development, told Business Daily in February that “gaming will probably be less than five percent of the total resort – if that”. But it will undoubtedly be the main generator of revenue for the site, which LVS says could create many thousands of jobs.

The Madrid regional government has already agreed to waive its normal 40 percent tax on gross gaming revenue, in favor of a 10 percent rate. Mr Leven told us in February that there would be no additional sales tax on bets at its planned casino. This story on the casino smoking ban in Spain originally appeared on Macau Business Daily.