Casino Smokers Step Outside After Smoking Ban Goes Into Effect
One Casino Still Allows Customers To Light Up
POSTED: 9:32 pm MST January 1,
2008
UPDATED: 9:43 pm MST January 1,
2008
BLACK HAWK, Colo. -- For the first time, casino goers in Colorado have to step outside to light up.Starting Tuesday, the smoking ban took effect in the gambling towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek, places originally exempt from the 2006 statewide smoking ban.Some casinos spent serious cash to keep their customers comfortable.
Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk installed “smoking awnings” complete with outdoor heaters, and The Lodge Casino in Black Hawk built outdoor smoking patios.Still, many smokers said they won’t be coming as often."I think it's a nice punishment for all us terrible smokers, putting us outside where we're going to get pneumonia and die," said Glenna Hess, a smoker who is considering giving up gambling because of the ban.One casino, though, is still allowing its customers to smoke indoors.The Wild Card Saloon in Black Hawk is claiming an exemption from the smoking ban, saying they are a cigar bar.Tuesday night, the place was packed with smokers.The chair of Smoke-Free Gaming of Colorado said they are breaking the law.“We are going to stop this outrageous conduct by the casino and the city attorney for allowing this continuing violation of the state law,” said Stephanie Steinberg, chair of Smoke-Free Gaming.
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