DENVER -- A statewide smoking ban was almost assured Thursday after the state Senate backed a strict bill that outlaws smoking in bars, restaurants and most other public places.

The House now must approve the bill for a second time after passing it on a previous reading. It was expected to approve the bill on Friday. The governor has indicated he will sign the measure, but he wants to review the language of the bill before making that decision.

With one member excused, senators voted 19-15 in favor of the bipartisan measure, which now heads back to the House for reapproval. The ban is expected to pass there as soon as Friday because it is the same version the House passed earlier this session.

The ban would still allow people to smoke in casinos, the smoking lounge at Denver International Airport and at cigar bars.

Sen. Jim Dyer, R-Centennial, said the casino exemption made the measure "pure hypocrisy."

Sponsor Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, said he didn't want the casino exemption -- passed by the House and Senate -- but thought accepting it was the only way to get a smoking ban passed this year and protect, while protecting the health of workers in bars and restaurants.

"On balance, the bill we have isn't something that everyone loves but (it's) one we can live with," Grossman said after the vote. "The message today is that the Senate truly cares about the health of workers in this state. All workers in the state of Colorado have a right to a healthy work environment. Today we took a step in the right direction and this is great news for Colorado. This bill also allows a level economic playing field across the state and will help our businesses."

Both the House and the Senate earlier passed the smoking ban but the Senate created a lot more exemptions than the House, leaving out taverns that get less than 25 percent of its revenue from food. Bingo halls, racetracks and private clubs were also exempted in the Senate's version of the bill.

That meant the two sides had to agree on what version they would reconsider. Earlier Thursday, a committee picked the stricter House version at Grossman's request.

Specific exceptions to the bill include: private homes; vehicles that are not used for child care or public transportation of children; limousines under private hire; up to 25 percent of rooms in a hotel or motel; retail tobacco businesses, the outdoor area of any business, places of employment not open to the public with three or fewer employees; casinos; and DIA.

For places of employment that are exempt, the bill requires the employer to provide a smoke-free work area if requested by an employee.