DENVER—When a smoking ban takes effect at mountain casinos next year, gamblers who want to light up a cigar or cigarette may have to wander just 1 inch outside the door.
Central City officials have approved an ordinance that changes the required distance from a public entrance from 15 feet to 1 inch, and their counterparts in Black Hawk and Cripple Creek are working on similar adjustments.
Representatives in the three communities say they want to reduce the distance because space along sidewalks is limited.
Lawmakers this year expanded the statewide smoking ban to include the casinos, which previously had been exempt. The bill covers the 44 casinos in Black Hawk and Central City west of Denver and Cripple Creek near Colorado Springs. It takes effect Jan. 1.
The law will require smokers to stand at least 15 feet away from entrances but also gives cities the authority to change the distance.
Some businesses can request an exemption to the ban if they can prove at least 5 percent or $50,000 of their sales are tobacco products.
Police officers in each of the towns will be responsible for enforcing the ban.
Casino owners also are looking at other changes to make the environment more comfortable for smokers, including covered patios and outside heaters.
“The casinos are working on proposals but we’ve not received any as to how they might provide some shelter for their smoking customers outside of the buildings,” Black Hawk City Manager Richard Lessner told The Denver Post.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
