Font ResizeThree casinos in Cripple Creek were ticketed today for violating the state's smoking ban, the city's mayor said.
Bronco Billy's, Double Eagle and Midnight Rose each received a $200 fine for allowing patrons to smoke in their buildings.
The fines come just days after the city said it would not enforce the smoking ban because its police force lacked the manpower. The city was criticized after the decision by state officials and others and decided to punish the casinos.
Mayor Dan Baader said the city's police chief handed out the tickets earlier today.
"They're all going to get tickets, and we'll see what shakes out of this," Baader said. "But I'm sure this won't be the last we hear of this."
He said the casinos tried to find a loophole in the law. Establishments that receive 5 percent of their gross annual income from tobacco sales are qualified as cigar bars and are exempt from the ban.
The three casinos claimed that the exemption applies to them, Baader said. But the casinos have not done an audit to prove their claim since the law went into effect Jan. 1, he said.
Christopher Sanchez: 303-954-1698 or csanchez@denverpost.com
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