Colorado Poker Players Breathe A Sigh of Relief in 2008

The recently passed 2006 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act will finally force casinos in the state to prohibit smoking altogether starting on January 1st, 2008. Players, visitors, and employees alike will literally be breathing a sigh of relief once the new year rolls around.

The Act finally ensures that the deadly effects of secondhand smoke will not be affect casino patrons in the state of Colorado. According to recent studies, over 50,000 people are killed annually from the after-effects of inhaling secondhand smoke. "This is another step in creating a healthier environment for Coloradoans," said R.J. Ours, director of government relations for the American Cancer Society - Great West Division.

For the past year since the Act was passed, casinos had always been exempt from the law. It wasn't until recently that state officials reversed the exemption. This should help casinos not only improve air quality, but also give a reason for visitors to stick around longer to play in their establishments. It was reported that many local bars saw air quality improve by 90 percent during the opening year of the smoke-free laws that the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act contains.

Colorado was the 13th state to put into effect such a smoke-free law.