Tools

Northern Winz Casino in Box Elder Sees Boost in Sales Thanks to Smoking Ban

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Jan 24, 2010 at 5:17 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 24, 2010 at 10:54 PM MST

Gambling in Montana has fallen dramatically over the last few months and it has a lot to do with the Clean Indoor Air Act. But one casino in our area has actually seen a sales increase since the smoking ban passed last October.

Lorraine Jacobs from Rocky Boy has been smoking for over 50 years. When it comes to gambling, she spends her time at Northern Winz. It's one casino in Montana that still allows people to light up because tribally owned casinos are exempt from the smoking ban. Jacobs says, "I'm a smoker and I can enjoy myself here. I can play where I want to play. I can smoke where I want to smoke."

She is like many people who have ditched their usual gambling spot for Northern Winz ever since the smoking ban went into effect last October. The casino is actually seeing people from all over the state come here to use the machines. That is because gamblers say the gambling machines go hand in hand with cigarettes.

Customer C.J. Ameline from Box Elder says, "I'm a smoker. I'm like two packs a day so I won't go to Havre and gamble." Customer Elaine Arkinson has been smoking for ten years. She says, "We don't go to casinos in Havre anymore. We come here cause you can smoke."

Arkinson says when it is time to light up, she can now avoid stepping outside during these cold snaps. She notes, "When I was playing at the other casinos where you can't smoke, it's like Ohhh and I'm winning and my machine is hot and I'm winning and I want to have a smoke and I'd have to step outside and I don't want to interrupt my gambling."

And this kind of attitude has transferred into winnings for the casino itself. Ever since the smoking ban went into effect, Northern Winz says its machines are being used 30 to 40 percent more.

Acting General Manager, Bobbi Favel says, "We saw it as an opportunity to get people to come out here and come to the casino. As far as this policy goes, we're going to keep it as as long as we can"

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Betty said on Thursday, Feb 11 at 10:41 PM

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Betty http://illinoislottery.info

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

News, Sports, Weather for Great Falls, Helena, and all of Montana and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Great Falls & Helena Weather

Icon
Great Falls Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
Current Temp 31.0 °F
Overcast
Wind : North at 5.8 MPH (5 KT)
Pressure : 1026.0 mb
Humidity : 61 %
Icon
Helena Helena Regional, MT
Current Temp 30.0 °F
Partly Cloudy
Wind : Calm
Pressure : 1028.5 mb
Humidity : 75 %
Click here for our video forecast
More Weather
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

AP Video