Casino news source: CBS4 - http://cbs4denver.com
Blackhawk Casino Wants 'Cigar Bar' Status
Rick Sallinger
BLACKHAWK, Colo. (CBS4) ? A casino in Blackhawk wants to call itself a cigar bar in hopes by doing so, its customers will be allowed to smoke inside.
Colorado's indoor smoking ban takes effect for casinos Jan. 1. Once the ban takes effect, the only places people will be able to legally smoke indoors in the state are the smoking lounges at Denver International Airport, and at officially designated cigar bars.
The Wild Card casino has asked the City of Black Hawk to classify it as a cigar bar.
"We've always complied with the state regulations, county regulations, city regulations and I don't want to get into anything controversial at this time," casino owner Ed Smith said.
Behind all the slot machines there is a small convenience store and a sign reading "Ed and Shirley's Cigar Bar." Cigarettes and cigars are on sale. The casino has submitted records to the city showing cigarette purchases it has made and monthly sales figures for them.
"An establishment must have five percent or more of their sales from tobacco before Dec. 31, 2005 and the onsite rental of a humidor," Deb Montgomery with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.
Some of the bigger casinos are building balconies and patios to accommodate smokers.
Ameristar Casino operators met with state health officials and others, including the American Lung Association to discuss the smoking ban Thursday.
"It's important to remember there is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke, and as the American Lung Association, we seek to provide smoke-free environments for all," Wendy Morrison with American Lung Association said.
But if the Wild Card gets classified as a cigar bar, patrons may be able to smoke while they gamble.
Smoke-Free Gaming of Colorado is challenging the Wild Card's bid to become a cigar bar. The anti-smoking group claims all the Wild Card's tobacco sales are from its convenience store, and such stores are part of the current smoking ban. |
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