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South Beach Casino's popularity and success wouldn't be threatened if a provincial smoking ban were extended to First Nations, the chairman of the native-run casino says.
The casino on Highway 59 would continue to thrive if puffers were forced to butt out because fewer than 10% of its total patrons are smokers, said Furlon Barker, head of South Beach's governing board.
The figure is based on observations by staff and data collected from customers.
"We don't feel smoking is a major reason why we're successful," Barker said yesterday.
However, the casino will do what is necessary to protect its smoker-friendly status, Barker said.
Casino officials are waiting on the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and province to act on a judge's decision Monday to strike down the section that exempts First Nations from provincial smoking legislation.
"Such an act would be a violation of our given right ... the province cannot impose that law on First Nation land," Barker said.
South Beach is on Brokenhead Ojibway Nation land in Scanterbury, about 60 km north of Winnipeg.
It is operated by an ownership group of seven First Nations and is one of two native-run casinos in Manitoba. The other is the Opaskwayak Cree Nation-owned Aseneskak Casino near The Pas.
Aseneskak management declined comment about the court ruling.
In a written statement, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said it is concerned because the ruling says aboriginal businesses have an unfair advantage.
AMC argued non-aboriginal businesses have received significant benefits from the federal and provincial levels of government.
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